1090 k. a Y. . Listen to am 1090 k. a Y. Little Rock online attend 90 k. a Y. Dot com Cumulus station Oh the cold day a shown on t.v. Sirius all over the news later today oh no they are it is just the global These are it learned through to on t.v. To prove all over and soon she is all over. The load with a welcome to through the Bible I'm your host Steve sweats and today our 5 year journey through God's word continues in the Old Testament book of 2nd Kings chapters 13 to 15 now our teacher Dr j. Vernon McGee calls the section a rugged portion of Scripture but he also tells us that it can minister to our hearts sounds great doesn't it now to help you get the most out of today's study I suggest that you pull out your copy of Dr McGee's notes and outlines and turn them to the page titled The chronological table of the kings of the divided kingdom the notes in Ellen's are necessary to understand what we're going to hear but I think that you'll find it a helpful resource as we quickly go through the history of the Kings in Israel and Judah So if you haven't yet downloaded your free copy of the notes and outlines Hugh can get them immediately. At t t v dot org forward slash notes and we've got just a few minutes to share a couple of letters from the Bible by us 1st we've got an email from Pat who listens through our app in Mountain View California as I reflect on my time on the Bible bus each study has blessed me greatly but Leviticus sticks out in my mind as one I remember best the call to live a holy life was so important I belong to the world prayer team and am including a donation for a new set of tires for the Bible bus I pray blessings upon you Steve as well as Greg and the entire staff worldwide Well it's great to hear from you Pat And thanks for your financial and personal port and as always it's a privilege to partner with you as we share God's Word with people in almost every country on earth now here's a letter this is from a fellow passenger of our English broadcast but they listen in Africa Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ I'm always blessed with the programs you air I'm a security guard and during my night shift duties I enjoy listening I'm always assured of God's protection and it gives me confidence that God is with me. And now I've got just a couple of quick letters this is from our world per team country of the day Mozambique by the way 1st it's a new listener listening to this program with these beautiful words my faith was renewed my hope was reborn because God is really the rock of my life thank you for the messages in my language of sua and for reminding me of the great price my Savior Jesus Christ paid for me and then last we've got a grandmother I live alone and I was recently taken to the hospital the doctors have not found a diagnosis and I must stay here in the meantime I've brought my radio and introduce the other 2 ladies in my room to your program this time in God's Word is the highlight of our day thank you for the comfort and encouragement Well if you'd like to join our world prayer team as we travel on our knees praying for God's Holy Word to reach his whole world and praying for the wonderful people that we meet all along the way then join us at t t v dot org forward slash pray and let's do that now Heavenly Father revealed to us the truth of your word as the Holy Spirit moves in our hearts and minds to make it real in our lives in Jesus' name amen Here's through the Bible with Dr j. Vernon McGee. Our friends is a very rugged portion of Scripture yet it can minister to our hearts and especially this is a good section for politicians it's good section for the rulers of a nice and it's good foreign nation now we are following both kingdoms of Estrella and Judah in the north can tribes constitute the northern kingdom of this realm and then the South Judah constitutes the mind part with Benjamin and that's where the line of David is the reigning and that's the line of course that will be followed right on into the New testament to the birth of the large isa scribes Now last time we saw that line was almost eliminated by ass a lie daughter of jazz a bell and they have who had married into the family of David but there was one little fella that our nurse had hidden away and she kept them there Dolly was sad and then just hired a high priest brought him out to the people having got the protection of the captains and the leaders of the night shin and he reigned entirely was 4 to 7 years old and that he was murdered by his own servants you see this is a bloody period it's not a perfect area that all and yet during the reign of Joe I it was a period of revival in fact the 1st revival that these people had and it came at a most unlikely of time and that's the reason that I believe that we can have revival and I'd die and we're going to see it later on in this same book by the way because there were actually 5 revival periods and we'll put a great emphasis on this when we get to the 2 books of Chronicles. Now we find here at Chapter 13 as we come here jack hole has the son of g Q The reigns over for 17 years and he follows and the central steps of Jeroboam Actually there's nothing very sensational or interesting in his Ryan at all and so many people fail at c.n.n. And that type of fighting brings sight into a lie my eyes say that it's nothing quite as boring as saying after a while the man who starts to drink enriches the day when he's a drunkard and when he becomes a drunkard he is as boring as anyone can possibly be and alive loses its purpose the sighing thing is true of any individual that indulges in saying this is a Perry and when there's really not much excitement going on the excitement goes on when God is moving friends and how we need him today on the scene and so we find you're not going to begin reading and just hop skip and jump through this section here I began reading at verse one of chapter 13 of 2nd Kings in the 3 and 20th year of Joe I the son of a has king of Juda Joho I has the son of g.-d. Who began to run over some area and reign 17 year so well you can say this doesn't seem to be very exciting does it not well we are told here he did that which was evil in the side of the lowered the fall of the sands of Jeroboam the son of Ni bat which made us real to sin he departed not there from you see Jeroboam seems to be the standard for the Northern Kingdom he was ascending 8 put up the golden calf see Led astray away from the word. Of the true God led them into sin now and I have been jest about came to the throne they went way beyond that they began that act if worshiped by a black male which actually was demonism and they and could use that now this man that is beginning to rain who actually has a son g.q. He like his father it doesn't go to buy a worship bar as bar in the depths of sin as a had been Jess about it but he does go as far as Jeroboam did nots bad enough now we are told that the king a safe area came against him and as a result by this man he knew he was in danger and he was in trouble he did turn to the lot and then verse 4 and Joe Hall as they saw the large in the Lord hearkened on they him where he saw the oppression of this real because the king of Syria oppressed him and a lot gave a savior so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians and the children of this will go out and that can says before I noticed how gracious Gaudi it was the minute that these people call upon the minute the king called upon the law he heard and he answered the prayer and he delivered these people how gracious God is my friend you in die today do not realize how good gaudy is and how good he is still you and to me today all the goodness of go out wonderful here and it's seen now in the life of this cane and be very easy to say I'm sure that some of us what is said wait a minute less white and see if you are going to come back to the law and if you promise to serve the Lord well then we'll do something far you but we have to say something on your part the law I just heard is prayer and a lot I. Nancy but now White is not going to get by with science you may be sure of that and we find here as a result Vera 6 Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the House of Jeroboam who made us rail sin but walk the area and they're a mind to grow also in some area prosperity is not all Lay is an evidence that people are walking with God It could mean as the dead in this case they called upon God and he had been good to them and heard them but they won on and sand but the day Cain we find verse 7 neither did he leave all the people of the jungle as but 50 horsemen and 10 chats and 10000 footman for the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them black the dust by threshing In other words he never was able to come back to really defend his kingdom and then we have the rock already here versus $89.00 of the down the gentle way I have this is the record of mine the king is day long way of the King and here comes another king to the throne we're told in the 30th and 7 care of Joe I king of Juda began Ho I and now it's really become confusing because of the NY Times on both sides are similar if not a Danny go and as a result Well you don't know who's the rain and you don't always rain and you don't know what the circumstances are this is a very confusing period no I'm not sure what the law I'd left it that way with a very definite raise and we're told in verse 11 he did that which was evil in the side of the lowered he departed not from the sands of Jeroboam the son of the bad who made a sort of saint but he was there now that was the standard that when a king came to that level of sand God always judge now we're told the rest. The acts of Joe Irish and all that he did and it is my wherewith he thought again Sam reside king of Juda are they not written in the book of the Chronicles Joe I left with his fathers and Jeroboam sat upon the throne and joyous was buried in some area now this is confusing and the reason that it's confusing is because we started off with Jeroboam and it looks like he's come around again for the 2nd time but it's another Jeroboam this was Gerald Bull on the 2nd and he begins rain now and it was at this time that allies show bios saying well it was the sickness that brought death to him now will you notice what happened at this particular time and I want to begin reading it various 14 now allies share was falling sick of a sickness where are they died and joy the king of s. Real came down on him and wept over his face and said Oh my father my father the chariot of s. Rail and the horsemen there are you see a line had been power of strength to day Northern Kingdom and very frankly on a way that a lot I just had not been even the Kenyan when he takes say Actually he's heartbroken because he had been a great help towing a line Joe was not one to lodge a line up in the chariot they had a big party at the palace I can assure you again and a lie she was sent on to him take bow and arrows and he took on a hambo and iris a life she had to visit from him by the lies she has not accepting as some but they are the flowers he sent he still as a prophet of God and he's given a message telling and we're told here why he did he said to the king of Israel put bind hand upon the Bowie put his hand upon it and ally should put his hands upon the king's And he said Open the wind. He swore he opened it then a lie just said shoot and he shot and he said the ara of the large deliver and the arrow of deliverance from Syria are the smite the Syrians in a fact held out consume them well Joy ashes not noted for his fight he's weeping over the prophet that died but he's not my own that's my own of great faith and he didn't believe that he was going to get a victory over the king of Syria bar say tane and he said take the address and he took them and he said under the king of s. Or else smiled upon the ground he smiled thrice and stayed man of God was wroth with him and said I should have smitten 5 or 6 times then has met and Syria has consumed whereas now that I shall smite Syria but brides you see didn't have to believe that God would give him deliverance and so discouragement and lack of faith caused him to quit how many were wonderful projects for God today never come to fruition there never executed because a child of God made some opposition when he began sorry has certain debts courage months and disappointments and then he leaves off and says well it's not God's wail all how many we believers are hiding back of that little phrase today it's not the will of God I want my Fran that's the thing that this man was say he only smote 3 times he said well I don't think God will give me the victory. God says I will give you the victory keep at it he going on we hear so much today we have this easy believe isn't this solved by that we have found that you just sat on the sidelines and as it were you more or less engage in wishful thinking and that's funny my friend not expected a move for you believe that God can use you then why don't you get busy I hear people say today all I want to do something for God when I come around again is still sitting that God can you ship what you need to move my brain but great lessons are here far a struct the lessons burst 20 and a life should died and the better it is and the bands of them all of lights invaded the land at the coming end of the year I came to pass as they were bearing a man that behold I spied a band of man and they cast the man into the sepak of a life and when the man was let down and touched the bones of the lies she revive stood on his feet even in death a lie she was a miracle working individual tremendous power of strength he had been in that nation now we are told here but Hazel king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehovah and the Lord was gracious son to them had compassion on them and had respect under them because of his covenant with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and would not destroy them neither Casti them from his presence as yet so hazy out of Syria died Ben Hey dad his son reigned in his stead and your whole the son of Johor as took again out of the hand of Ben Hey dad the son of the hazel the said is which he had taken out of the hand as his father by war 3 times that Joe Ashby did and recovered the said is of a. In other words as this fight so it was done on Am and God gave them that for great deliverance now we have here the reign of the Amazon over Judah and as we've indicated before Amazon I was a good king and fact an exceptionally good king the right 29 years let me just 3 different universes here to get this before in the 2nd year of July son of just as king of Israel re now Messiah the son of Joel as king of Juda that's confusing isn't it well it certainly as you need our chart to follow through at this point he was 20 and 5 years old when he began to rain during 2009 years and Jerusalem and blot out so we going to hear his mother's name was wot you hold down Jerusalem I tell you the mother will receive credit when he's a good king chill receive blame when he's a bad thing and this man Amazon is a good king so he must have had a wonderful mother the Niners given here now we are told that this man Ryan that this particular time and probably I should just might calm manner to Amazon son of Joe I he succeeds to the throne of Judah and he does that which is right on the side of the lower but he does not quite measure up to David's standard and you will recall that became the standard verse 3 he did that which was right in the side of the large yet not like David his father he did according to all things as Joe as his father day it didn't quite match your own day you see and we find that the civil war between the 2 kingdoms continues during this particular period I'm not going in to that and if father will come back to all of this. And Chronicles and we find now that Jeroboam the 2nd Eve becomes King over at the northern kingdom of Israel and then Amazon bar 17 the son of Joel king of Juda lived after the death of Joe the son of Jehovah has king of a sort of 15 years now the rest of the acts of Amazon they're written in the book of Chronicles and we're going to see those lighter by the way now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem and he fled like that's way up in the north but they sent after him to like ish and slew him that way and they brought him on horses he was buried in Jerusalem with his father in the City of David not as a ride as the man that comes in now all the people of Judah took as a rial which was 16 years old made in King instead of his father Amazon and this man as a rock as the man we know as Zion and was during the reign of this man that eyes began his prophetic ministry we're told he built the lath and restored it to Judah after that the king slept with Ace father and we have heir record of the reign of Jeroboam and you guessed it he didn't do very well he was a bad game now was Zaya who comes to the throne and Jeroboam the 2nd king of a serial and he reigns 41 years and he does evil according to the sands of Jeroboam the farmers and it's very boring by the way it was Stoller's the border of Israel according to Jonah son of a myth not of the Prophet That's an interesting thing maybe you hadn't ever noticed that they for but here is a historical reference to Jonah and it confirms the fact that Jonah was a real person and prophet then is surreal and I probably should turn. Read this here in the 25th verse by the way let me see if I can pick that up here verse 25 he restored the coast of this trail from the entering of had a math on to the sea of the plane according to the word of the large god of this Oriel which he spoke by the hand of his servant Jonah the son of a met God The Prophet which was of gas he for that's Jonah who wrote the book of Jonah by the way and here's a historical reference to it we have the death of Jeroboam the 2nd 10 then Zachariah comes to the throne we're now moving down toward the and actually of this nation and I don't know whether we'll get to it next time but Chartley will be to the end of the us now in chapter 13 here we have 'd king of Juda and he's a good king but he did something he should not have done he intruded into the trace function and he smitten with electricity and we are told that actually he's a good king and fact of very good king it broke the heart of Isaiah the prophet when he died because Isaiah was afraid and his fares were well grounded that the nation would have a king that would lead them back into idolatry and they did and we find here that is the last on the line of g.q. Isa line by Shea long after he'd reign only 6 months and show them didn't do very well either he only reign one month and then Manahan overthrows and slays Shayla this is a dark period while the nation and he reigns 10 years and he does evil as Jeroboam a done now it was at this time that pull King of Assyria comes again says frail and man i ham pays a 1000 columns of sales. No preserve is king and we find it is death that Pete a high his son succeeded to the throne he only writings 2 years when Paco's happened conspires and slays and now during the reign of cake a template polies a gang of Assyria comes against as well and takes capped at the tribe not to lie because so lion Bio Shock and Joe summer rains and Judah and is recognized as a good change by the way we pass over actually in this section the writing of us Zaya We'll pick that up when we get to chronic goes on also the book of Isaiah now we very hurriedly gone over the past we'll pick up some of this next time but we'll be moving on in Chapter 16 so on tell Dan May God richly bless you my beloved Well we covered a lot of ground today and if you can go back and read over the section again just so that you can clarify who was who and which King belong to which kingdom and while you're reviewing want to read ahead in chapters 16 and 17 to prepare for tomorrow study Dr McGee always suggested that we read ahead for each study and to help you we offer a handy bookmark with a reading calendar to get your free copy when you call us at 1865 bible or like most of the stuff we have you can download it from the resources section at t t v dot org Speaking of our reading schedule it's also available on a beautiful new wall calendar for 28000 called through every open door this is through the Bibles 1st world focus calendar with beautiful pictures every month of Adore somewhere in the world and we chose these images to inspire you to pray for open doors to the gospel in a different region every month and it also includes great quotes from Dr McGee and like I said the monthly Bible schedule for our daily broadcast study they're available as long as supplies last for just $10.00 So order yours today by calling . 1865 bible or by visiting us at t t v dot org We've got more to learn from God's word tomorrow as the Bible bus rolls along through 2nd Kings I'm Steve swats and I'll be here saving a seat just for you of all those who knew you know that almost soon. 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As This is the one born to die for the sins of the world there is over the manger the shadow of the cross and that shadow were made all his life long until he went to that for us for this reason he said I came into the air. You've probably never seen a warning sign associated with Christmas you know but in a sense that's what John MacArthur is offering on today's study here at Grace to you since we are still a few weeks before Christmas this is the perfect time to recognize the dangers of Christmas mixing and matching truth in error during the holiday season John shows you how to avoid that today as he continues looking at what the Bible says about the real meaning of Christmas today's compelling message comes from a passage that you might not normally associate with Christmas to show you the connection Here's John MacArthur I invite you to take your Bible and turn to Flippy in this chapter to Philippians chapter 2. And I want to take as the text of our Christmas message verses 6 through 11 Philippians 26 through 11. And in these verses we will see 5 steps in the Christmas story 5 features as God enters the world 5 great aspects to the incarnation 1st of all number one the Lord Jesus Christ of bend and a sovereign position like a king that takes off his robes of majesty and puts on the garment of a beggar the Son of God abandoned a sovereign position 2nd point he accepted a servant's place when he became a man he didn't become a king as a man or a great ruler or great leader or great master he became a servant the moment that he divested himself of his robes of majesty he donned the servants apron thirdly he approached a sinful people he approached a sinful people in his perfection he was willing to be a servant to the Father in His perfect harmony with the father he was willing to be a servant that service meant that he had to approach a sinful people he had to enter this sin cursed planet he had to render his service here on this earth he couldn't do it from outer space he couldn't do it from the Edge Of Heaven he had to come into this world and he had to touch sinful man at his own level so that abandoning a sovereign position on adopting or accepting a servant's place meant approaching a sinful people look again aversive he was made in the likeness of men. And found in fashion as a man that was the only way it could be done he had to become a man by the way it says in the authorized was made in the likeness of men the Word was made is probably not the best translation it is a participle of the verb get in my Again I am an us which means becoming He was becoming in the likeness of men and the idea there is not that he was created then but that he always was God but he became a man he preexisted as eternally as God is eternal He wasn't made then he was then becoming a man he had all ways been in existence so that proper use of that verb indicates a change becoming something and it is saying that Jesus who always was in the form of God was becoming in the likeness of men and it was a process he was born and he grew in wisdom in stature he was becoming in the likeness of men by the way the word likeness is so important the 1st part of the word is the word homo which means the same homogeneous something that is the same and what it's saying is he was becoming the same as men he was in every sense in the same this as man he was a genuine man he had the essential attributes of humanness he wasn't just God in a shell he was fully man in all parts and dimension a genuine man with real humanity he had everything that all men have except for one thing what was sin but that doesn't mean he wasn't a man Adam was a man before he was a sinner and you and I will be glorified men throughout all eternity when our sin is put behind us and there are times in our lives when we are not sinning so to be a man does not necessarily mean you must sin and Christ did not. The Bible is clear he was without sin but he was no less a man in fact if I may be so bold to suggest he was all that a man could be that we could never know a man to be because of his sinlessness So he was a genuine man he was fully man in the essence of his humanity at the deepest point he was near but go to verse 8 he also was found in the fashion of a me not only was he a genuine man and deeply and truly in his nature all that a man is but he also took on the outward form of a man and here's the words came up the fashion of men he didn't come into the 1st century with the 20th century outfit talking a 20th century language it didn't drop like some visitor from outer space he was born of a Jewish mother he lived in a little village of Nazareth He ate the way they a to talk the language they talked he transported himself the way they did he wore the clothes they wore took care of themselves the way they took care of themselves yet what they drank what they drank in other words he took on the scheme of their life the customs of their culture so by personal experience he adapted to the outer manifestation of the time in which he lived it was man at the deepest part of his nature and he adapted to man in that climate and that culture in that time and experienced all of their experiences it's fully God fully man the mystery of the Incarnation and sinless all the while don't think of Jesus as less than fully human he was fully human did people come into this world to the natural process of birth through the warm of a mother so did he and others been wrapped in swaddling clothes so was he. Had others grown up so did he did others have brothers and sisters he did it did others learn a trade and worked so did he were other men at times hungry and thirsty and weary and asleep so was he were others grieved and angry so was he did others weeps So did he that others rejoice so did he were others destined to die so did he did others suffer pain so did he were others loved and hated so was he he was a man in in the form in the fashion and it's a Christmas carol away in a manger that says the cattle are lowing the baby awakes but little Lord Jesus no crying he makes you mean to tell me the because he was God he didn't cry All babies cry is necessarily a sign of sin he cried when he was a man why can't he cry when he's a baby has been hungry child of mine I too have needed bread for 40 days I tasted not till by the angels fear a stab in thirsty on the cross I suffered thirst for the I've promised to supply that I need my child come to me when thou art sad and tears fall fast my heart goes out to these for I wept or Jerusalem the place so dear to me and when I came to Lazarus to my wept my heart was sore I'll come for de when thou didst weep till sorrows are all or sure he wept he was human in all of fullness of humans. That's the Christmas story he was fully God did not clean to his privileges but laid them aside became a servant and approach to sinful people for 3. Having abandoned a sovereign position having accepted a servant's place having approached a sinful people he then adopted a selfless posture he had darted a selfless past verse 8 he humbled himself or people what a statement what a statement dear to think about the humility of Christ I mean I see him and their ears as a little boy or a young man and he's helping Joseph make a young. In the carpenter shop to put on some marks and that he had created I mean he's washing the feet of 12 disciples and here it was who designed their brains he's hungry and it was he who created the universe place of humility Dr selfless passed utterly selfless for us he did this people humility is the theme of Christmas you know what filthy stable Our family was in when the summer in the bottom of a barn ankle deep in the mire in the filth where never the light of RINGBACK day or the sun shone foul stench that Nasim was gag humiliation Saint Augustine wrote so beautifully have assumed nobody so beautifully . The word of the Father he said by whom all time was created was made flesh and born in time for us he without whose divine permission no day completes its course wish to have one of those days for his human birth in the bosom of his father he existed before all the cycles of the ages born of an Earthly Mother he entered on the course of the years on that very day the maker of man became man that he ruined of the stars might be nourished at the breast that he the bread might be hungry that he the fountain might thirst that he the light might sleep that he the way might be wearied in the journey that he the truth might be accused by false witnesses that he the judge of the living in the dead might be brought to trial by a mortal judge that he justice itself might be condemned by the unjust that he discipline personified might be scourge with a whip that he the foundation might be suspended on a cross that he courage incarnate might be weak and he security itself might be wounded and he life itself might die humility and how humble look back adversity he humbled himself. Didn't go well certainly he became mortal but it went beyond that he also became obedient and to death you see it was an act of obedience he learned obedience Hebrews 589 by death the greatest act of obedience to the father was in dying that was God's will and even in the garden when he sent all Father let this cup pass from me the humanness was crying out against dying the deity was crying out against sin bearing and yet he said Not my will but thine be done. It was obedience of death he didn't just become mortal he died. That's the worst that man can ever ever endure all the way to the grave and he didn't just die either but at the end of Percy even the death of the cross is one thing to die it's infinitely beyond that to die the death of the cross injured writers used to say that to die on a cross is to die a 1000 times before you take your last breath the pain is excruciating unimaginable the suffocation of the organs when the body is suspended by for great wounds is more than you can believe the pain the fiery pain pulsing through the body is more than we can conceive. It was a painful death and it was a shameful death it was reserved for the violets and the most wicked of criminals and you hung suspended in space naked before the gaping gazing mocking throng it was a curse of death God himself had said he that hangs on a tree is cursed it was a lonely death there was no companionship even God was gone and I wonder so often as I hear the word still oh so all the sign of wonder of all the ages see Christ die God The Lord of Glory is on the cross for the comprehensible humility but what's so marvelous is that even in his dying even it is dying even in such abject depth of human suffering he still wielded the power of God to redeem the human race in his dying he could do that so what do we see then what is the Christmas story the Lord Jesus Christ abandon the sovereign position except to the servants place approach to sinful people adopted a selfless past that's the Christmas story but there's one more thing. 50 he ascended a supreme prints he ascended a supreme prints. What was God's reaction to this and what should be ours God's reaction 1st in verse 9 where for God also had highly exalted him and given him a name or a title or a position or a rank that is above every other name or title position or rank God lifted him up and people listen to me that is the great classical spiritual truth Jesus said to himself in Luke 1411 he that come with himself shall be exalted and that is the spiritual truth that we must learn when we humble ourselves God world lift us up and exalt as and that's exactly what happened humble himself when he was exalted he then becomes the supreme illustration of this kingdom principle you sink to the depths of selfless sacrificial humiliation and God will lift you to the heights of glory we see that in the Beatitudes we see that all throughout the teaching of Christ in the apostles humility then exaltation humility then exaltation Jesus in his baptism is humbled he's baptized by June and in humility identifies with the sins of his nation but an exhortation the voice of God bursts out of heaven this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased we see him in the temptation he's humble 40 days without eating he's being buffeted by Satan he's fasting in repentance again identifying the sins of the nation in humility he trusts the father to take care of him and never uses his power to meet his own needs. And then in glorious exultation when the time is done the father dispatches the angels who come and feed him in humility he publicly proclaim to his disciples that he was going to die in a moment later he's in a mountain with them and he pulls his flesh back and they see His glory. We see him on the cross in humility and then he bursts from the grave in exile Taishan and that's the patter you nobody then glorification God exalted him I was God's reaction God examiner and God gave him a name above every name one 1st. In order that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow every knee now we come to us and all the other creatures every need of our every need in heaven who would that be that would be the holy angels and the redeemed cities have already gone they have everyone in earth that would be all the living and under the earth the demons and Satan and all that hosts all the creatures in heaven in earth and under the year all of them are of bound to that exalted name he has says It features one far above all principality is in powers far above all other names even the supreme place Prince of God Notice that he's given a name above every name so what does it mean very clear in verse 10 the name of Jesus that all that is embodied in that name all that is embodied in who use he is an equal the savior the Lord of the world in the universe and that that name every knee should be and you know something every knee Wilber That's right every knee will bow it's not in adoration in judgment right it's not in worship in condemnation every knee will bow even Satan will be cast into the pit forever he'll bow the knee to the authority of Christ but look at verse 11 and bring it to personal response. Verse 10 encompasses the broad picture every knee should bow verse 11 comes down to the individual every tongue should confess Jesus Christ as Lord to the glory of God the Father every living thing every living creature in this world will confess Jesus Christ as Lord the demons and the damned the redeemed the holy angels all will bow all will confess sooner or later the issue is when if you wait until the judgment is too late but if now you confess Jesus as Lord you enter into His Kingdom His salvation almost 10 and intense as if thou shalt confess with time out Jesus as Lord believe in one hard goddess risen from the dead thus shout we were say this is the message of the Gospel Jesus Christ is Lord. That's who were saying he is God He is in the form of God He is God a very God with all the attributes of God come into the world with all the fullness of human ness he became the servant he humbled himself he died even dying on a cross and in the midst of that death purchasing our salvation God approved and God lifted him back up an example of them and then God caused to all the created universe and says bow the knee and confess is lordship and if you won't now you will someday but then it will be in judgment condemnation now or later choice is yours you can bow the knee now in adoration and learn you can confess Him as Lord. And enter into the joy of salvation forever or you can resist and say no and someday your brother need because you'd be forced you have no choice. To be condemned our prayer is that you confess Jesus as Lord what greater Christmas gift than that and to receive eternal life why be a fool what kind of fool reject that in comprehensible but is it a message for Christians or most of us are Christians 0 message for us for sure one of those Something this passage was written for Christians that's right the passage was not written for unbelievers isn't for Christians how do you know that because this whole passage is just an illustration of another principle go back to verse 5 the whole passage simply illustrates another principle and what is the principle verse 3 let nothing be done through strife or vainglory but in lowly ness of mind but each esteem others better than themselves don't look on your own things but on the things of others Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being and then you go into the past what is processing be humble. Be self-less be lonely. And if you need an illustration then let this mind be in you which was in Christ who was something and became nothing that God might make him something again he is a living illustration to the believer if you will humble yourself God will exhaust you you know what people often ask around Christmas time I guess what is on are trying to tell me what is the point of Christmas I think the point of Christmas is right here Christmas there's no better time in the year than to teach us the illustration of the lesson of humility character of Christ he was unselfish he was humble he was condescending and Paul is challenging the church to that perspective an attitude of a willingness to suffer. To be humiliated to be selfless to be sacrificing so that God can lift us up to the thing we need to learn people is not to all ways be asserting ourselves defending ourselves pushing ourselves up but to be humble and self less that is the message of Christmas to us listen to the words of Paul Reese for us Christians says Paul there is no place where the principle of effacing self in behalf of others appears so impressively as it doesn't Jesus Christ he is God giving himself away yet remaining God He is God putting off a sovereign's vesture for a beggar's rags he is God rising from his bench where he sits says Judge and going to the gallows for the criminal. He is God impoverishing himself beggaring himself exposing himself to evil spite and spittle never sparing him self until he has made the rude cross on Jerusalem's Hill the sign of the some of his other self giving. It's. This why he is you is the best. The Humble is 1st. Softens reach out somebody else in. Jesus. That's John MacArthur here on Grace to you showing you exactly what to celebrate this Christmas God the Son how meeting him self and obeying his father to the point of death to redeem sinners along with teaching on radio John serves as president of the Masters University in seminary and his lesson today is a part of John's current study the real meaning of Christmas John with what we saw today about Jesus' amazing birth let me ask you this Can a person be saved without believing in the virgin birth would you classify that as something every true Christian has to know and accept an essential doctrine you can answer that question 2 ways 1st of all for a person who doesn't know about the virgin birth not understanding the virgin birth they could still believe the Jesus is God and that he died in their place to pay the penalty for their sins and that by faith in Him His righteousness can be imputed to them and they can be forgiven and saved. So there are certainly people who have been converted genuinely regenerated who didn't really think about the virgin birth as a as an element of it they just believed that he was God maybe not knowing about that birth but if you know that the Bible teaches the virgin birth and you deny that truth and you say I don't believe that that is a point of unbelief and at that point if you don't believe what the Bible says about Christ in his birth it calls into suspicion. The claim that you believe anything else so yes somebody could be saved without knowing about the virgin birth but to say I don't believe in the virgin birth but Christ is my savior is to deny Scripture and it makes whatever faith you have suspect because you don't trust the Bible Thanks for the helpful clarification John now if you'd like to see why the virgin birth or any other topic in Scripture is important for your life pick up a copy of the flagship resource of the MacArthur Study Bible this is available for a limited time at 25 percent off the regular price so contact us here today this is the ideal time to get ahead on Christmas shopping and bless those you love with God's word during the holiday season order the MacArthur Study Bible and begin seeing God's word transform your life call the toll free number 18055 greats by visiting g t y dot org And they also take the opportunity to remind you of the exponential impact that you have by supporting raced you financially when you give to this ministry your gifts are used to encourage local pastors around the world and when you reach your pastor of course you reach your church and when you reach your church you reach your community and the truth of the Gospel continues to spread to make your donation so important at this time of the year mail it to Grace to You post office box 4000 Panorama City California 91412 you may also donate online or by calling us the Web address g t y dot org And our phone number is 855 grace for John MacArthur I'm your host thanks for tuning in today come back tomorrow as John will show you how some folks missed Christmas and how you can avoid making the same tragic mistake join us for that half hour of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time on Grace to you. Do you work at west coast yes so you can get mean how can you get me on the list to join I've heard West Ham offers all the great service slew fees and great rates of the credit union that's running plus all the tools you get from the big bank so I need to be up here people just know anyone in So Cal can open a West com account believing it perks like access to 30000 feet free a.t.m. And I feel structural Quest the best bank for you may not be a bank at all West com dot org federally insured by n.c.u.a. Certain terms may apply. Just getting up or just getting out the door we get it life in So Cal isn't always 9 to 5 that's why this morning team is going strong at the crack of dawn for you Seana how forecasts will tell you what to wear a leash on her down to the mile traffic will keep you in the clear when Daniela will break down all the morning's breaking news so nothing takes you by surprise it's simple you wake up will open your eyes today in l.a. .