Thank you for using me. I'll praise you. Lift up all those who are out on the roads, Lord, especially the truckers, those who are delivering things. We also lift up the folks there in West Sunbury. I've learned the grocery store is on fire, and we ask that you would protect those who are responding to that fire, Lord, that no one would be injured. We thank You, Father, for those who are willing to serve as firefighters and other first responders. And Lord, as we go forward in Your Word, I ask for Your blessing in Christ's name. Give me unction to speak, Lord. Amen. All right, Jim, you ready to go? This is one of the busiest times of the year. Everywhere you turn you find people hustling and bustling, but not so much this year. I noticed there's a difference this year. But there's parties and dinners and gatherings of family and friends, gatherings of co-workers, church congregations get together, even strangers get together. Everybody wants to celebrate. And then there's the shopping. It starts a day after Thanksgiving and it goes on till after December 25th. After giving thanks for what we have, we race around trying to get more. But as I said, not so much this year. Because the crazy inflation has really put a damper on things. keeping us from buying what we don't have and what we don't need. All through my adult life, during this time of the year, people have said, are you ready for Christmas? Are you ready for Christmas? No matter where I go. If I just go to the grocery store and check out, and somebody says, are you ready for Christmas? Yeah, sure, I'm ready. But then that got me thinking about, am I really? Is everybody? Really ready. So I thought I'd make a good title for a message. Are you ready for Christmas? Are you ready for Christmas? Now last night we listened to the accounts of Christ's birth. The entire record of his birth, what we have in Matthew's gospel record and what we have in Luke's gospel record. And that entire account takes about 20 minutes to listen to, maybe 18, I'm not sure exactly. But we split it up by singing a verse of O come, O come, Emmanuel in between four sections of Scripture. Did you know that the biblical accounts of his first coming are filled with historical facts that fulfilled more than 100 prophecies? More than 100 prophecies were fulfilled in the first coming of Christ. These predictions are found in the Old Testament, and they tell us the Messiah is coming. Collectively, they are called messianic prophecy. Even though they were recorded by numerous writers over a span of about a thousand years, they are undeniably accurate. God said, this is going to happen, and it happened the way that He said it was going to happen. The unfortunate thing is that many of the people at that time missed His first coming, even though they were schooled in the Scriptures, even though they knew the Word of God. I got to asking myself, do we know that these texts, these prophecies, were not forged after the fact? I mean, he came and somebody could say, well, let's see, we'll write this down and we'll write that down and we'll write this down and write that down. But how do we know that they're not forged? How do we know that these prophecies weren't written after the fact? Well, we have two testimonies. Two. The first is the Dead Sea Scrolls. And the other is the Septuagint. The Septuagint existed prior to Christ's time on earth, so did the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Septuagint is the Hebrew Torah, which was translated into Greek about 300 years before Christ. That's a historical fact. Three hundred years before Christ came, those texts were already in existence. It was known that He was coming. And the Dead Sea manuscripts contain something from every book of the Old Testament, and it provides even older evidence that these texts that we have still in existence are accurate. Together they are God's proof that what He predicted through people, through human beings, that He inspired that these things that they wrote over time, a span of about a thousand years, these things are true. They're true. They're indisputable. And when somebody says, oh, that Bible's full of myths, it's full of allegories, it's full of whatever. I mean, I've heard all the different words, and I'm sorry, they're not coming to mind right now. You can tell them. We have more manuscript evidence for the Scriptures that we call the Bible than any other writing that exists from history. The things that have survived time go beyond anything else. Even Shakespeare's writings are not as complete as the Scriptures that we have regarding what we call the Bible. The prophecies fulfilling the first coming of the Messiah were well-known and well-regarded as being accurate. The Hebrew people understood that Almighty God had promised a Redeemer to His people, and He sent the Redeemer. God's promises are preserved for all time throughout Scripture. He said He was going to bring one who would reign and rule over the entire human authorities. all authority would come under him. Humans have not liked this from the beginning. We see that in the account of Herod seeking to kill this one who was called the king of kings. Herod knew. The wise guys came and they said, we're coming looking for this king that was born in Bethlehem. And Herod said, well, you find him, you come and let me know. Because Herod wanted to kill him. He's called Emmanuel, God with us. That's what Matthew tells us. It's written in Matthew chapter 1 and verse 23, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel. And then Matthew says, which being interpreted is God with us. He's quoting the Old Testament. He has more than a hundred titles written in Scripture. I'm not going to list them all right now, but there's more than a hundred. A hundred titles for the Messiah, for Christ, for Jesus. As the world celebrates Christmas with feasts and worship services and gift-giving, Christ rules within the hearts of believers. He is with us now. His advent is among us. He has come to His people. But you know there wasn't a big party when he arrived in Bethlehem. You all know, you've been taught since you were children, most of you anyway. There was no big shindig, there was no big party, no big celebration. When he came, it was in humble circumstances. Very few were even aware that the King of Kings had come. Very few. And there were millions of people in town for the census. The town was full. Maybe not millions in Bethlehem, but the whole country. He took those shepherds a brief time because they were informed by an angel. They showed up at the time of his birth. And there was those wise guys who saw his star and it took them a couple of years to get there, at least according to Luke. They found the house that they were living in by then and they visited him there and bestowed the gifts upon him. And each year, as we celebrate the first coming of Christ, we sing carols. We sing hymns like Holy Night, Silent Night, Holy Night. And it brings those sentimental feelings. You know, when we were children, I remember going door to door singing. We would dress up in funny costumes, sort of, whatever we could muster up, and we'd go knock on doors and we'd sing Christmas carols. And one of our favorites was Silent Night. We'd sing it. Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright. Round yon virgin, mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace. We sang that last night, didn't we? We enjoy singing that. Did you know that hymn was written in 1816 by a Reverend Joseph Moore in Austria? 1816. And yet when we sing it, we seem to feel like it was always a part of celebrating the first coming of Christ. That melody was composed by Franz Gruber as a lively dance-like tune in 6-8 time. A little stepped up from what we do. Today we visualize a somber occasion of the first coming of Christ. We don't think about any fanfare because it wasn't there. We might have expected that for the greatest king to ever live, right? Didn't happen. Christ's first coming was nearly silent, except perhaps for His cry when He breathed His first breath. But His second coming is going to be sudden. It's going to be without warning, and it certainly is not going to be quiet. According to the Scriptures, every eye is going to know. Everybody is going to see when He comes. Where were the religious leaders of that time? I have to ask. Where were the religious leaders? Here came the greatest king ever. Here came the Messiah of Almighty God. Here came the one that they knew was foretold. They knew the Scriptures. They knew them, and they missed Him. Where were they? They were busy with their rituals. They were busy with their whatever it was that they were doing. Wasn't looking for Him. They weren't paying attention. They weren't ready. They weren't sure that this one was the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords that had been foretold, because if they had been ready, they would have recognized when He came. They would have seen that star. They would have known that was the sign. They would have known when all of these things happened and came together at that moment in time, that He was the One! But they didn't. The most religious The ones that were highly educated in the Word of God, the ones that knew all of those prophecies that had been brought, they missed Him. They missed His first coming. They missed Him. They missed Him. Even the secular people knew, the wise men from the East, Herod the king, He found out and killed all the male babies. Two years and under, the Scripture says, according to the time when they saw the star. Two years and under. Why weren't they ready? Why didn't they observe His first coming? Why didn't they know? How could they miss it? Why was His arrival largely unnoticed by the most religious of that time? Well, the family knew and a few shepherds who were told by the angels, but nobody else got it that we know of anyway. And I'll tell you why, because they weren't watching for him. They weren't ready. They weren't looking for his arrival. They were busy with everything but. greatest man who ever lived was born in relative obscurity because the world did not care." Isn't that where we're at now? Do you think the world cares that he said he's coming back? No, what you hear is, oh, he said he's coming back, where is he at? And as I said, his second coming is not going to be secret or silent. It'll happen suddenly as he gathers his followers to himself. And hear what's written in the Scripture. Let's go to Mark chapter 13. But of that day and hour, speaking of his coming, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. Only the Father. Take heed, watch, and pray, for you do not know when the time is. It's like a man going to a far country. who left his house and gave authority to his servants and to each his work and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming in the evening, at midnight, or the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning, lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping." That's what he said. That's what he said. Do you think that maybe he might have thought about just lightly even, maybe briefly, that maybe they didn't notice that he was coming the first time, and he's trying to warn his people to pay attention, because otherwise you might be caught unaware. I think that has something to do with it. I really do. Now look in Matthew 24, verse 31, where it's written, will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they will gather together his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other. And then in Mark chapter 13, it's written, but in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. The stars of heaven will fall and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels and gather together His elect from the four winds and from the farthest part of the earth to the farthest part of heaven." He'll take those who are ready for Him and He'll rule in this kingdom. Throughout His brief life, He revealed the love of God to the world. But people were not ready. He said, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. That's what He said. He brought the message of hope for all who would receive Him. Those who receive Him, confess Him. We confess Him as our Lord. He's the one that guides us. He's the one that we surrender to. He's the one that we yield to. He's the one that we allow to guide our lives, just like Mary did. Be it unto me, she said, your will be done. Behold the maid, servant of the Lord. She yielded. She knew it was going to cause her trouble, but she yielded. She knew it was going to mean ridicule, but she yielded. She knew that her child was going to be ridiculed, but she yielded. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life for all who will follow Him. The question is, are we following Him? He said, watch, be ready. And the whole world wants to look back, especially at this time of the year, and forget to look forward. Advent was originally a time of looking forward, a time of repentance, preparation, fasting, prayer. Christ brings light into the darkness, shines the glory of Almighty God upon us. And it's the same as God did at the time of His birth in the form of a star. He's announced freedom to the captives. He's announced freedom to the fearful. He's announced freedom to the addicts. Oh, we don't like to think about that, but yeah, To those who are addicted, regardless of what they're addicted to, He announces freedom to the angry and the covetous, those who love and practice lies. That's what His Word says. He announces freedom. You no longer have to do that anymore. You don't have to live in your sin anymore. You're set free by that one who came in that manger in Bethlehem. He made the way, and it's a narrow way. It's an absolute way. There's no other way that leads from here to the place where Christ guides without Him. That's what He said. There's one way, His way. There's many today that preach and teach another way, their way, whatever that way is, and there's lots of them. I've studied some of them, and I don't like them. He talked about those who would try to lead people in another way. He warned about them, false shepherds, wolves in sheep's clothing. And I like to think at this time of year that He's moving among His people to remind us that He is the way, the only way. And He gathers His people together. Though scattered thy people, O Zion, have been, But now they are gathering home. The Spirit is calling, they gladly obey. With songs of rejoicing they come. Thy children are gathering home. With joy they are gathering home. From all the divisions in which they were scattered, Thy children are gathering home. And that'll be the day. Whenever He comes and He gathers His people together, He'll gather us home to be with Almighty God, our Father in heaven. There's some other things that'll happen too, but we're not getting into that right now. You know, with the first coming of Christ, Almighty God humbly brought salvation to earth for you and me and all who would come. He made this promise. He promised the first coming, and that promise is certain because we see the fulfillment of it. We remember it every year. And He made a promise that He would take us to be with Him. He makes promises and He keeps His promises and He tells us to watch for His coming. Does that mean we shouldn't celebrate? I don't think so. I don't think it's that we shouldn't. We need to be clear about how we do that and why we do it. His coming, sure. He's not going to be in some obscure corner of the earth. The whole world's going to see Him. He's going to reveal His authority and His power and His majesty. It's written in Revelation 1, verse 7, Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him. Does that sound like He's coming in secret? Every eye will see Him. That's what's written. Even they who pierced Him. And so He's talking about raising the dead. Those who pierced Him are dead. They're in the ground. Buried for a long time. It says, even their eyes will see Him and all the tribes of the earth who mourn because of Him, even so, amen. And amen there means it is so. That's an absolute. The whole world will know when He comes back and nobody will miss it. Nobody. And that'll be the day that outshines any of this world has ever seen, amen? And so I ask, are you ready? Are you ready for that day? Are you ready for that Christmas? Because if you are, then remain prepared by continuing to look forward to His return, to remember that, to keep it in your mind that no matter what you do, gauge it against your eternal existence. It's too easy to give in to sin when you think nobody's looking or nobody will know. I've had people tell me, oh, nobody's going to know. And I said, I'll know. God'll know. I'm not going there. No matter what it is, it's little things. I'm not talking about heinous crimes or anything. You've got to remain true to Him. You've got to remain mindful of His promise to return. Watch for those signs, and we're seeing them around us. We're seeing them in the world today. Not all of them have been fulfilled, that's for sure. The sun hasn't gone dark yet. The moon hasn't gone dark. The stars aren't falling out of the sky. We need to be watching, not get caught up in the day-to-day things, and especially at this time of year, whenever we get so caught up in all of that partying and visiting and all of that stuff. Don't lose sight. God said He's coming back. He's going to send the Messiah to collect His people. So don't get caught up in everything and forget to give thanks. Give thanks for every breath that God gives you. Anybody who's ever had struggles with breathing knows every breath is a gift. Remember to thank God for the air you breathe, the food you eat, the water you drink, the house you live in. Remember to thank him for all those little things. People that don't have good clean water. That's why Bob and Judy aren't here. They're heading to Costa Rica because they're going to help people get clean water. They do clean water strategies for people in third world countries. No matter how many thorns you have in your life. You know, Paul had a thorn in his side and he begged God to remove it. And three times, he says, I ask. And three times God said no. He said, my grace is sufficient for you. No matter how many thorns you have in you or in your life. Remember to thank God for the roses. No matter how many thorns. Are you ready for Christmas? If you're not ready, I want you to take a moment and pray. Pray for Almighty God to prepare your heart to receive Christ. Seek the King of kings. Seek the Lord of lords, the one that they were not ready for at that time. Set aside everything that so easily besets you or stops you from being ready for Christ and accept Him as your Lord, the way that Mary did. Yes, Lord, I'm your servant. Let Him be your King. Let Him rule in your life like Mary did. Look for His advent here as you live your day-to-day life. Christ's next coming is going to be awe-inspiring. The whole world is going to know. He's not coming as a little baby in a manger. He's not coming in some hidden place. He's not going to be amongst a few people. Acknowledge God in everything you say and do. Give Him praise. Give Him thanks. Read and study His Word to learn His purposes for your life. And go to Him in prayer. Go to Him in prayer every day. Talk with Him every day. He's your God. He's your Savior. He's your King. Thank Him. And very often, my wife will tell you, my prayers are simple. Thank you, Father. Help us, Lord. Bring us a piano player, Father. Bring us a bass player, Lord. Simple prayers. I prayed whenever we saw the weather forecast for the rain blowing in here. I'm sorry, Eileen, I didn't pray that far out. I was kind of self-centric here. Lord, please keep that freezing rain away from here. We got a little bit of it, but nothing like what was forecast. And I know that God answers prayer. I know from all the times that He has. And so I rely on that as my remembrance, because the enemy will automatically say, God's not going to hear your prayer. Remember when you did this? Remember when you did that? Remember when... So he's the accuser of the brethren. Try to trick you into thinking that God won't hear your prayer, and then you give up on it. That's not what you need to do. You need to stay firm on that prayer. God, help us. God, help us. You know, I think of the people that are dealing with terrible tragedies. Some of you in your lives have had tragedies. You need God's help, and I know that, and I pray for God to help you. Like you, I've also had tragedies. God has helped me. And it's only by going to Him in prayer, talking with Him every day, and sometimes not eating while I'm doing it. In other words, start the day without eating instead of by eating. Set the tone. I'm going to commune with You, God. He gives you the strength to overcome those hunger pains. Give of your time. Give of your resources to those that are in need. I don't usually share that I get to do that very often. I don't know when we're going to get food again. We did have some bread last week, and it was cold. It was bitter cold. I set some pallets up, and then that storm blew in. It was 40 degrees when I was putting the pallets out. I wasn't even wearing gloves. But then the wind came and blew the tent away overnight because we forgot to put it down. It was too cold. He picked it up and sent it out into the trees. That's where it still is. We're not going to clean it up. Sorry, we threw a pallet on it to keep it from blowing away any further. That was the end of that one. There's many ways that you can be ready for Christ's coming. He said when you feed the hungry, you clothe the naked, homeless. It doesn't necessarily mean you do it personally, but you assist with that somehow. It's the same as doing it for Him. It's the same as thinking, come Lord Jesus. And when anybody asks you, I'm going to wrap it up. It's an early one today. If anybody asks you, are you ready for Christmas? If you have Christ within you, you can say, sure. Are you? And then you can share the hope that you have in Christ. Amen? Amen. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank You, Lord. We know that people are busy with all the visitations and all of the things that people do on this day when we remember Christ's first coming. Lord God, I ask that You would give peace. Peace that passes understanding. I pray in Christ's name that we would all be ready for that next Christmas, that next coming of Christ. And all of God's people said, Amen.