Hillsong Church - The Father's Word is Final

[Music] everybody very Merry Christmas is Christmas Eve come on who's ready to praise God together come on here we go [Music] have you ever seen the world in the glimmer wrappers [Music] the eyes begin to and the blindness me [Music] if you have so say I see the world I see I see the world [Music] [Music] have you ever seen [Music] [Music] I'd say [Music] I will steal [Music] [Music] but jingle bells jingle bells jingle all the way come here [Music] jingle bells jingle [Music] cuz I see the world your way and I'm not afraid to follow I see the world to me not ashamed to say soon I still Jesus [Music] [Music] I feel [Music] first in lead [Music] [Music] [Music] I see [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] the body shell [Music] mercy of [Music] the cross Oh [Music] to go I play the cry [Applause] the great for G me [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] ouch [Music] the girl [Applause] wanna see [Music] [Music] come on let's sing this out I give my heart to [Music] for the live [Music] this [Music] [Applause] poor gay man [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] to be loved by the [Music] I'm forgiving the city save for for the [Music] thank you Jesus thank you that we are forgiven we stand in the freedom of your prisons grateful thank you [Music] jeez [Music] and be still and that the Lord is in control and be still my stand and watch this giant I won't be afraid you might need you silence for my fee I won't be afraid don't let go be still my heart [Music] and be still and try what the Lord said is in fine brass don't stride and watched as faith and grace [Music] won't be afraid as you are you silence for my [Music] I won't be a brain you don't let go be still my heart I won't be a bread [Music] [Music] I won't be afraid surely love and [Applause] [Music] well will sure see me we'll fly the truth this money you sure [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] me thank you Jesus you are with us [Music] one church this morning his piece is if for every single one my god Emanuel he's without his grace insufficient come on his goodness and follows us he surrounds us with his love with his client Lisa can we just [Music] with grateful let's be the thank him giving the place these cheer that is worthy of his name we make you [Music] [Applause] there is come on Excel the name [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] let us [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] see [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] is [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] we [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] oh come let us adore him oh come let us adore him oh come let us adore him to think about him to celebrate him to honor him to praise him to worship Him to magnify him to make him larger in our minds not to think about the problems and the challenges around us not to be consumed by everything around us but to magnify the Lord to worship him - harder here favors we give you all the we give you [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] and if your voice [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Merry Christmas everybody welcome the Sunday morning church she it's great to have you here Sunday morning in church together worshiping Jesus magnifying his name welcome to everybody on Church of the air outback Australia wherever you are around the country nice to have you with us I met a couple I met it's David and Priscilla I think I met at a party last week who are it promotes some part of Australia who just happened to be back for a party and out there church of the air they said it is so incredible being out in remote Australia and just kind of feeling like you disconnected but every Sunday being connected with us is that amazing technology what I can do to help keep us connected lots of people out there across Australia we're gonna take a moment and pray for lots of different prayer requests you might want to do what I love to do which is as you're reading through the prayer requests just pick one and start interceding for them there's someone there healing from stent surgery someone else with lung cancer people needing full-time jobs you just start praying for one of them in particular you can pray for them all if you want I have lots of them here all kinds of different situations why don't we lift our hands toward heaven father we need you we need you we don't want to magnify the problem God we're praying about it but really what we're praying is that you would intervene in the middle of it because we want to magnify you we want to glorify you Jesus we don't want our eyes or our heart of our attention fixed on the problem on the challenge no we want to think about you we want to think about you as a healer you as our provider you as our carer our leader our Shepherd our guide Lord we ask for your involvement we ask that you would be intimately involved in every single one of these situations to bring healing and wholeness and blessing and favor relationship success whatever it is Lord every single one of these we thank you for all that you're doing we thank you for all the good reports we think about people getting jobs and people getting healed and we thank you God for your handiwork involvement everything that you do every part of your fingerprints and your a little bit some pieces everything you do everywhere you go we thank you for your involvement God we love you we appreciate you Jesus name and everybody said amen [Applause] [Music] great to have you with us can you believe it's Christmas Day tomorrow what I've you've enjoyed coming into this Christmas season it really is a special time of the year the most wonderful time of the year really really really and so we've got Sunday morning church today we've got Christmas Eve services tonight service not services there's one at 6:00 p.m. tonight Pastor Brian will be speaking tonight Robert Ferguson is speaking this morning Robert Ferguson preaching Sunday morning church Pastor Brian tonight and the Christmas Eve service as always a special service there'll be all kinds of wild animals tame but wild like a camel is not a domestic animal is it it's a wild animal but these are tame and they've been to the bathroom before they come in here I would suggest you sit a couple of rows back and maybe a few seats in from the aisles as they walk around but it'll be fun it's amazing and so we've got that tonight we've got Christmas Day services tomorrow it's just beautiful special lots of great things have them 60 seconds on the clock time for you to minute mingle say hi Merry Christmas to somebody well hello chaps as you take your seats we've got our beautiful kids item for you guys this morning and this is the lovely Lily and she's gonna sing for us all this morning so we know you're going to enjoy it [Applause] [Music] Jesus lay down his sweet head the stars in the bright sky [Music] little Oh [Music] Jesus No [Music] oh Jesus [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] boo gorgeous gorgeous well done sailor I mean star so beautiful Lily how great how great were you Wow proud mum and dad I feel like we need to have this every week you can be said I felt we needed to have this every weekend in church that way this season the kids families it's beautiful it's absolutely precious this is we've got things on your seats to let you know what's happening this Christmas season on your way out you're actually going to get Thank You Carlos champion on your way out we're gonna give you a Christmas shirt as it's a card but it's a shirt right it's a Christmas shirt with all the details on the back of what's happening this summer because we need to know what's going on so you'll know all about the camps kids camps can I just encourage mums and dads grandparents if you've got any children any kids young people youth in your families it is a brilliant time if you're trying to figure out what on earth that we're gonna do with the kids this summer that's a great thing that you can do and have your own little honeymoon thing it's what Jules and I do every single January kids go off to camp they are young we are free it's brilliant and off they go and it's nice you get a whole week just to hang out but there's kids camps there's youth camps and there's there's actually they're not like kids camps but for 25 to 35 18 to 25 like all the way up to 35 years of age there's all kinds of retreats and camps and things so make sure you find out what's happening on others one on Cockatoo Island for example which I think could be one of the last years we have it on Cockatoo Island a in the harbour maybe so that would be definitely worth young adults getting to that it's right in Sydney Harbour on the island where they filmed the Wolverine Wow and then you've got young adults ones there's all different types of things so just make sure you see that or see the apps or out in the information desk when you are wanting to know what's going on and posture Brian's got a 7-day devotion coming up starts on January 1 we're doing fasting and praying in January 21 days leading into Vision Sunday you'd be happy to know that it's not starting on Australia Day because that would be cruel wouldn't know we'll start the next day Saturday the 27th but join us there's all kinds of things Julia Abell my beautiful Christmas bauble look at this I'm here to please her she's just gorgeous look at this thanks babe so so here's my husband that's why I just gave him a kiss it was an appropriate kiss it sound like you said it was an inappropriate no-no in an appropriate an appropriate kiss who thinks it's appropriate to kiss your spouse at Christmas amen it's good in fact if you want it right now you may kiss your spouse if you're sitting next to them oh that's what we want okay calm down calm down love it are we are going to bring our tithe and offering today to the Lord so our honor under your cedars and in is an envelope that says home and others and even if you give online or some other way that is presented behind me on the screens why doesn't everybody this Christmas in church this morning take a hold of that envelope as an act of faith and I'm gonna pray a blessing over you before I do I just want to talk about joy isn't it isn't it funny that this is meant to be and I think it is in many ways it's a season of joy Christmas is a season of joy but we find ourselves at the local mall at the shops we find ourselves maybe fighting for a car park and the first thing to leave is maybe that sense of deep joy right or maybe you're in a season because of the circumstances that you are going through it just lacks joy that happens and that's life the Bible actually says about joy where it comes from on the screens here it says that the joy of the Lord is your strength down the bottom there in Nehemiah for the joy of Lord is your strength that's where our strength comes from our strength doesn't come from the circumstances our strength actually comes from Jesus and when we put the where we put Jesus at the center of our lives even when we're shopping even when we're going for a car park at the local mall even when we face the trials and tribulations of our lives when Jesus is at the center he fills us with joy when it comes to our giving it's exactly the same when we put Jesus at the center it fills us with joy this morning as we bring our tithes and our offerings to the Lord let's do it with joy the kind of joy that comes from the Lord and then why don't you just take a hold of your envelope this morning in faith as you give can also give by cash whatever suits you but let's be generous and let's give with joy father I thank you for these incredible people they're generous they're amazing even now God as I'm praying for them I pray that they would sense your presence your presence is here amongst us we're aware of you Holy Spirit and I'm even asking God that those that lack joy this season even now that you would breathe joy deep within their soul and as they give God that they would allow that joy to bubble and overflow with thankfulness we bless you Jesus today we're grateful for you and then amen don't you love Jesus isn't he good he's so generous I love that he fills us with joy I reckon after church today you're gonna walk out on cloud 9 the Jesus type of cloud now do you like the person you're sitting next to do you think the person you're sitting next to is Christmassy enough are they Christmassy ah you're good well you know the best news of the week you know the best news of the week is church news right and it's Christmas season Joel's already mentioned our summer camps but take a look at the news and May it brings strength to your soul and then have a look at the screens [Music] [Applause] [Music] the pay's project the stunning new Christmas worship album from Hillsong music with new songs and traditional favorites for this Christmas season [Music] [Applause] [Music] begin this Christmas season with the peace project available now well we love to make the special days special at Hillsong Church and Bobby and I cannot wait for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services are going to be services where Jesus was glorified a beautiful presentation I'm excited about speaking and of course we're going to believe for the whole family to have an amazing time [Music] hello Church I have officially found the good lighting yeah we tell us when we're up to you my name is Patrice me Jim from City care on the go to church your to song highlight here Jess and Josh here from Hillsong city Hillsong GWS down on my lunch break second wrap and pack party dropping up campus and Toys Toys thank you contribution because we actually get to restore value to Christmas that I have to go through it just reminded me little things matter generosity matters thank you so much for all you've done so many our lives are gonna be changed and help them impacted so many families who are gonna have a great Christmas because of you what we get to do is really [Music] that's so fun is seeing all the different campuses right around Australia being part of Stuff the Bus and can we just say great big thank you to the entire church every campus wherever you are because I know we have a lot more people in church today than we did a year ago and that's a wonderful thing but it means that because we all are involved in Stuff the Bus that over like a smidgen like I'm saying only like 400 or so under a hundred and fifty thousand items came in this Christmas season for Stuff the Bus so great big thank you to everybody who was involved because it's absolutely wonderful means we can get things out to everywhere even a New Castle we could get things out in that right sing act know right saying that is Joel how are you this morning we're gonna fall house here in New Castle it's always great the fear thing and always good to see you mate looking very Christmassy well that's it we try and keep the sprit Christmas spirit alive here it's all about Jesus isn't a church is all about Jesus that's who we're celebrating and so we're ready we're really bring on the Christmas cheer and the presents and Santa and baby Jesus yeah he's growing up now he's a lot older than that now saying that was a long long time ago mate I'm coming thank the Lord for Hillsong Bible College we are so glad to have you with us we're connected obviously from Sanger all the way down to Kent which is Hobart so all our campuses right up and down the East here all in Sydney and New South and Wollongong and Melbourne and Hobart we're so glad that you're with us this morning we've got Robert Ferguson bringing the word today and then yeah and then tonight our Christmas Eve service Pastor Brian will be speaking and also Christmas Day tomorrow so that's going to be a special look on the app for all the different service times but why don't we wherever we are stand to our feet come on every campus let's stand and let's welcome Robert Ferguson this morning as he brings us God's Word [Music] you good people thanks team did a brilliant job this morning stunning specially JD jingle bells and Calais are in your world and it's just perfect so good and a star was born a star was born did you see my grand daughters in the production just thought I'd point them out just because I only saw them as all good grandparents well you can all sit down well I have the privilege of speaking not just to you wonderful people at Hills but also all across our campuses in New South Wales and Hobart and Church on the air and Melbourne as well so it's a real honor to speak to you this morning of course tonight it's going to be a very special night because it's our special Christmas Eve service as Joel said with our senior pastor Brian Houston speaking you don't want to miss that and then of course all our services tomorrow but Christmas Eve last night I spoke in the city on Christmas Eve Eve I didn't know quite what to call it was someone in the city suggested we call it Christmas Adam because Adam comes before Eid so last night I spoke on Christmas Adam this morning Christmas Eve tomorrow Christmas Day so I've got a word in my spirit that God just dropped into my spirit this week that is more than just a word sometimes when you're speaking you just speak a word all words so God words from the Bible but every now and again there's a significant word a word that God drops on your spirit for now and now word so wherever you are in whatever campus whatever situation or circumstance I want you to listen to this because I believe somewhere in this message but there is something for you at this Christmas season amen so we're gonna pray and then we're gonna get right into this message father God thank you very much for the privilege and opportunity speaking to these wonderful people carrot Hills across New South Wales and various other campuses around Australia father I pray that you would speak to each one of us this morning in Jesus name and everybody said amen well Amanda and I love Christmas we love the celebrations we love the carols we love the decorations we love the food and I have to say we love the Christmas movies prior to Christmas we've got a whole batch of Christmas movies prior to Christmas we watch Christmas movies and I think we've already watched three this week one of them is one that I want to highlight in the middle of the movie there was a scene in which the family gathered around the dinner table it seemed like a remarkably happy occasion everybody's celebrating the Christmas season but it soon becomes apparent that underneath the surface there are challenges and there are problems the mother is dying of cancer the son is profoundly deaf the daughter is messed up soon the discussions start gathering as it were around the table then they start talking about race they start talking about disability they start talking about being gay normal sort of Christmas conversations and then it becomes clear that this isn't just a normal discussion people obviously have deeply held prejudices there's political division in the family people have strong opinions and soon the discussion turns into a massive argument and people are shouting at one another around the Christmas table and suddenly the father shouts enough that is enough and there's absolute silence the arguments stop the accusation stop one of the accusers gets up and leads the table the conversation is over the father's word is final enough as I watched it it struck me that that is a microcosm of our world in this season on the surface as we gather and celebrate with this season everything seems to be great but underneath the surface it is apparent there are hurts and problems and fears people are concerned about terrorism they're concerned about poverty they're concerned about injustice they're concerned about droughts soon arguments start developing and it becomes clear that everybody has got prejudices and deeply held opinions and difficult different political motivations and an argument starts developing and it's as if as I was watching it I heard the Spirit of God tell me that the Father in Heaven shouts out enough that's enough he wants the arguments to stop he wants the accusations to stop he wants us to remember what we are celebrating and the father's word is final that's the title of this message the father's word is final now I don't know what you think about the book of Revelation but whatever you think about it it is God's final word to us in the scriptures so we're going to turn to the book of Revelation I'm going to unpack quite a long passage and I'm going to perhaps change your perspective in this season Revelation chapter 12 verses 7 to 12 men war broke out in heaven Michael and his angels fought against the Dragon and the dragon and his angels fought back but the devil was not strong enough I love that and they lost their place in heaven and the Great Dragon was held down that ancient serpent or as some versions have it that snake called the devil or Satan who leads the whole world astray he was hurled to the earth and his angels with him and then then after all this bickering after all this conflict after all this argument after all this accusation that's what Satan means then a loud voice in heaven said the father speaks enough now have come the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah for the accuser of our brothers and sisters who accuses them before our God day and night has been held down they that is us triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death therefore rejoice you heavens and you who dwell in them but woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has gone down to you he is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short an amazing passage of Scripture but do you notice the paradox in verse 12 check out verse 12 again the Bible says rejoice o you heavens but woe to the earth don't you think that's a little unfair God is having a party in heaven rejoicing while we put up with an urgent angry and wounded devil who is messing our world up does God not care does not does God not care about the injustice and the fears and the prejudices and the droughts and the problems that are so evident in the world of course he cares beyond your comprehension he cares but he has a different perspective he has heavens perspective whereas we have Earth's perspective and what I want to do this morning is to shift your perspective away from the troubles away from the arguments away from the accusations away from the prejudices and onto God's perspective where everything is rejoicing 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 18 makes this clear so we've fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal God is saying I want you to fix your eyes on the realities of heaven not on the challenges and the problems of Earth does that mean we ignore them no in Romans chapter 4 and verse 18 when Abraham was old and his wife was old the Bible says he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead but against all hope in hope he believed that God had the power to bring true fruition what he had promised we don't deny the problems in the world but our focus is on heaven and the truths that God's final word reveal amen so we need to understand Earth's position but we need to live from the viewpoint of heavens perspective so let's look in a minute at heavens perspective but let's establish a little about our position first three things I want you to understand about the earth the first is this the earth is indicative it is reflective what happens on earth reflects what is taking place in heaven so there if there is conflict in the spiritual realm there is going to be conflict on earth if there's victory in the spiritual realm there is victory on earth that's what this passage in Revelation teaches us so if our focus is on what's happening in heaven we shouldn't be fighting each other Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 12 makes that absolutely clear o battle is not against flesh and blood we're not taking it out on the people we don't like we're not taking it out on our neighbors who are causing this problem we're not taking you home it it out on people that we don't understand from a different culture or from a different background no our fight is not against them our fight is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and our victory according to heavens perspective is a short that's why prayer is so vital so in Matthew chapter 6 and verse 9 when Jesus said this is how you pray our Father who lives in heaven your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven that's what we should be looking at seeing what is in heaven and establishing on earth what we see in heaven but while we spend our life fighting and look all the problems God the Father shouts from heaven enough stop your arguments stop your accusations stop your prejudices look at things from my perspective and rejoice so the first thing is the earth is indicative the second thing is that the earth is waiting we would love all the problems to finish we would love Jesus just to come back again and when we are fed up we're often praying that Oh God come soon and remove all the problems but the fact is it's waiting Romans chapter 8 and verse 22 says the earth is groaning just like we are groaning it's not the Earth's fault if you want to blame anyone blame Adam and Eve they were the original idiots they're the reason the earth is groaning they're the reason we're in such a mess but it is groaning what waiting for its Redemption God is going to create a new heaven and a new earth that's his perspective he knows the problems he knows the global warming he knows the groaning he knows the challenges he knows the storms he knows this but he's saying be patient isn't that what it says in James chapter 5 and verse 7 be patient until the Lord's coming see how the farmer waits for the crops and the spring rains you to be patient and stand firm because the Lord's coming is near don't grumble against each other brothers or you will be judged the judge is standing at the door I think when your grumbling and whinging and complaining about the difficulties and why didn't God sort that out and why hasn't that happen he shouts from heaven enough remember why you're here amen so the earth is indicative the earth is waiting and the third thing the earth is temporal it's temporal isn't that what it says in Revelation the earth is the time is short the earth is temporal but God's Word that created it is eternal God's Word that up holds it is eternal that's what it says in Matthew chapter 24 heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away can I suggest that Satan is not interested in your opinion or your feelings or what you think he's not impressed at all even Jesus when he was in the wilderness in Matthew chapter 4 and verse 10 said away from me Satan it is written he could have said don't you know who I am he could have demanded his rights he could have said well I feel slightly bad at the moment because I'm in the wilderness sir could you leave me that would be a postmodern response no he didn't do that he said away from me Satan for it is written I said a couple of weeks ago I don't think Jesus would have had a blog because I don't think he had an opinion John chapter 12 and verse 49 and 50 says that he only ever said what he heard his father saying he didn't have his own opinion he only said what he heard his father saying so maybe when you allow the arguments and the opinions to go around the table and people start arguing maybe you could hear God's Spirit saying enough if you want to say anything say God's Word that's the only thing that's going to deal with the devil he's angry he's urgent he's wounded he's defeated his time is short he's out to get us please don't share your opinions so having established that that's our problem what's God's final words I love this let's go back to this passage in Revelation chapter 12 verses 10 to 11 finally he says enough a loud voice in heaven say now have come the salvation and the power and the Kingdom of our God and the salvation and the authority of his Christ for the accuser of our brothers who accuses them before our God day and night has been hurled down they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death you know I was reminded this morning that a few years ago I preached a message called he has always gone by chapter 4 I was telling people how we need to read the book of Revelation when the enemy is on your case stand up read the book of Revelation out loud he's always gone by chapter 4 he hates this book it talks about his defeat it talks about his demise it talks about his future he doesn't like this book because it contains the father's final word and what is the father this final word number 1 salvation of the earth is possible that's how he says now have come to salvation stop worrying about whether God is gonna do what he said he would do stop trying to work it out stop trying to reason your way into God's mysteries you're never gonna work him out he just says get on with it Acts chapter 1 verse 6 the disciples wanted to know all the reasons and they said is it now time Jesus for you to restore Israel and I'm gonna paraphrase this he said it's none of your business shut up get on with what I've told you to do leave God to do what he does the times and seasons are in the father's hands your job is to be filled with the holy spirit verse 8 and be my witness in Jerusalem Judea Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth we've got these people trying to coming up after the service and saying why did God do that why did God do that it's not my job to defend God it's my job to be a witness that's what Eugene Peterson said in his book he said this God doesn't need me to defend him it doesn't need me for a press secretary the proper work for the Christian is witness not apology I'm not here to apologize I'm here to witness to a god who's loving who's Jesus who came and is alive to set people free when we spend our life trying to reason it all out I think God says enough the salvation of the earth is possible get on with it now have come to salvation and the power second thing that we can take from this passage in Revelation the second thing is that the power of God is available don't be content with your circumstances yes the world is messed up yes there is pain yes there is sickness yes there is trouble but your job is to bring light your job is to be the salt your job is to be positive your job is to have heavens perspective and use the power that is at your disposal Luke chapter 9 and verse 1 Jesus said to his disciples going to all the world I'm giving you power and authority the ability and the right to drive out demons and heal sicknesses and diseases hey while we're in a waiting world while we are in a broken world while we we are waiting for our Redemption our bodies tragically will always fall apart but that doesn't stop me laying hands on the sick that doesn't stop me speaking life into people and the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives inside my mortal body to give it life and strength so that I can be the witness that's the point stop looking at our problems and start looking at his perspective the salvation of the earth is possible amen the power of God is available third thing the kingdom of God is eternal the kingdom of God is eternal he said now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom we are so caught up in the temporal fighting with our neighbors can I point you to what Jesus said to Pilate when challenged whether he was a king Pilate represented the Roman Empire Pilate represented the most powerful nation on the face of the earth Pilate who only understood temporal matters who only understood war and ruthlessness and natural power he challenged Jesus look at what it says jesus said My Kingdom is not of this world if it were My servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews but now my kingdom is from another place all you hawkish people out there who want to fight everything and force justice why don't you realize that your kingdom that you represent is eternal it's different our job is to preach the gospel our job is to love our neighbor our job is to include people our job is not to make judgments our job is not to attack our job is to lift up the name of Jesus amen this is God's final word salvation is possible power is available the kingdom is eternal number four the authority of Christ is irresistible the authority is the greek word exuse it means the right to do something Jesus has all the right we spend our life defending our rights fighting for our rights demanding our rights wanting this I want this I demand justice I demand this hey you've already been given Authority get out there and make disciples Matthew Tripp 28 and verse 18 he says all authority and power has been given to me now you go and make disciples don't demand your rights access them he's given you them all rights belong to Jesus we spent our life are giving around a table flowering off our opinions on social media instead of doing what God has told us to do in our presets and the accusations stop and the arguments finish Easter with me what about the fits when the judgment of Satan is inescapable it's inescapable he doesn't like it but revelation 20 and verse 10 makes it absolutely clear that the Hell has been prepared for the devil and his angels that's why he's running around desperate he knows his time is short or as John Milton put it in his poem Paradise Lost he haunts aloud but his racked with deep despair he's just a fallen angel removed from the power source broken defeated desperate urgent his judgment is inevitable Luke chapter 10 Jesus gives us a bit of an idea of our perspective he says the 72 returned with joy notice that with joy and said Lord even the demons submit to us in your name and he said and I'm paraphrasing of course they do what do you think would happen I defeated their boss Satan I've seen him fall of course you've got Authority of course you've got power I've given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy nothing will harm you but don't rejoice that their spirit submit you rejoice that your names are written in heaven that's the miracle oh the devil's going to get me that's Earth's perspective I've got my eyes fixed on the eternal perspective where there is great rejoicing my name Robert Ferguson is written in the Lamb's Book of Life that's the miracle that's cause for rejoicing yes there's problems yes the earth is broken yes through difficulties that's not where my hope is I'm looking elsewhere I'm not worried about him and can I just finish this with a final thought the triumph of the church is inevitable it's inevitable the the Christians defeat the devil by the blood of the Lamb by the word of their testimony and people don't talk about this one very much they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death jesus said to Peter in Matthew chapter 16 he said I tell you Peter on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it don't worry that fewer people are going to church you honestly think you're more concerned about the Churchland Jesus he's gonna build his church he said he would build it why don't you trust him to do it and get on and partner with him in building the most potent and those glorious force on the face of the planet the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ when we stop worrying oh no what's gonna happen enough the final words the final words I've just come back from New York where I had the privilege and opportunity of speaking not only to our New York campus but our la campus I spoke I don't know something like twenty eight times and and I talked to about 20 or 25 different couples it was exhausting and someone said when we came back they said how do you how do you cope how do you restore your soul in between appointments and I gave them an answer that took them a little by surprise I said we sing Christmas songs I said our driver takes us to New Jersey shows us all the Christmas decorations and then we wind up Christmas songs as we're driving down Fifth Avenue our favorite this year was Dominic the Italian Christmas donkey which has to be one of the worst Christmas songs I've ever heard in my life I've asked JD to learn it for next year and train it right up and you said well why do you do that because I'll tell you why some people think Christmas movies and Christmas songs are an escapism for me they're a perspective I'm not looking at the tacky decorations I'm looking through them I'm understanding that Christmas is about Jesus the Christmas is about family the Christmas is about community this Christmas is about reconciliation it's not about opinion it's not about prejudice it's not about hurt it's not about all the things that we make it about no I've got heavens perspective and I'm rejoicing loudly singing that Dominic is an amazing donkey I'm rejoicing that my name's rip my name is written in heaven are you rejoicing are you rejoicing this Christmas when you gather around your Christmas table and yes there are evident hurts maybe with family or friends there are evident hurts in justices pain that's real that's for real but instead of letting that develop into an argument listen to the Spirit of God and the father giving his final word enough enough now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom and the authority of his Christ amen the enemy is defeated and the church is triumphant that is God's final word amen I'm gonna I'm gonna hand over to all you wonderful campuses Melbourne Hobart all across New South Wales Newcastle will and gong hand over to you you can talk to your team your congregation about their relationship with Jesus but I'm going to take this opportunity here in this auditorium to talk to you about your faith please if there's any possibility of just staying still at this moment because ultimately this is what it's all about this Christmas time what is your personal relationship like with Jesus you just know about him or do you know him is he your personal friend or is here distant and slightly absent God he can be your personal friend and Savior if you've never invited Jesus Christ into your life what a great time Christmas Eve to invite Jesus into your life or maybe 2017 you've drifted maybe built your family and your business at the expense of your relationship with God and you know you need to come home you know you need to get back I don't like everybody if you would just close your eyes if you've got a relationship Jesus just asked Jesus to make himself known to the people around you but if you don't know Jesus and would like to this is what I'm asking you to do you may say well what do I do ask Jesus to make himself known to you as Jesus to come into your life and when he does he'll forgive you of everything you've ever done wrong ask Jesus to give you hope and he'll give you a future and this is the key put Jesus in charge of your life don't live your life your own way make Jesus your king your Lord your Savior I'm gonna count to three and if you're in this auditorium and you want Jesus Christ to be your king and Savior or you if you want to get back to Jesus I'd love to include you in a prayer I'm gonna count to three when I get three you be bold you be brave and pretty hand in the air as a sign that you want prayer I'm not gonna ask you to do anything other than pray with me but I need to know who you are so are you ready you want Jesus in your life you want to get back to Jesus when I get to three put your hand in the air you ready 1 2 3 slip your hand up fantastic hands going up I love it hands going up around this auditorium give me a wave if I hadn't acknowledged it hands right up at the back they're so good different sections hands up here on my right wonderful I love it anyone else want to join them what a great time to get to know Jesus at Christmastime all right you can put your hands down we're all gonna pray this prayer but especially if you put your hand in the air say with me everybody together Oh Lord Jesus Christ thank you you are the son of God and you died for me today I ask you to do what I cannot do change me forgive me come into my life from today with your help I will follow you you are now my Lord my king my Savior thank you Jesus everything changes from today amen I meant give these people are congratulations so good now listen I know there are a number of you put your hands in the air our heart is to help you support you equip you I hope you consider Hillsong to be your home at the end of the service someone will be waving a Bible in the auditorium or in the in the doorways or in the foyers and if you pray that prayer come and get hold of one of the Bible's just walk out and say I prayed that prayer and we love to give you this Bible as a gift even if you didn't put your hand in the air but prayed the prayer walk out and say I'd like one of those Bibles we would love to support you and help you on the back is a card and if you fill that in we're able to help you better I men now remember this whole Christmas season put Jesus first tonight amazing services service tomorrow amazing services and as you gather around your plant with family and friends remember when you get into a bit of an argument or someone starts expressing an opinion remember God's final worked amen god bless you [Applause] thank you Robert who loves Robert Ferguson [Applause] that's why his nickname is the surgeon he cuts out of us stuff that should not be in us we love you for it Robert appreciate you what a great year it's been you've labored hard you've preached well and he's always brought his best every time he comes to a platform across our church and we love you for it thank you so much amazing [Music] and can't wait for JD to learn that Dominique song Dominique yeah should be great can we stand together and pray for you this Christmas season we've got so many great elders and board members in our church and I've asked Nabi to come and pray a Christmas blessing on you don't forget as Robert said tonight we've got Christmas Eve Pastor Brian preaching and then tomorrow morning Christmas Day check the app that's the best place to find all the right service times and things but what a great year it's been what a great year it's going to be next year and here we stand in the middle we've got New Year's Eve next Sunday not we've got services in the morning 9:00 and 11:15 my god we'd actually do have a Christmas Eve service a New Year's Eve service next Sunday night and so just be aware of that it's all great things but Nabi would love you to pray for us thank you George Christmas thank you for the opportunity Church we've all gathered today to celebrate Heavenly Father's birthday so it's a celebration that we are here for and continue not only today tomorrow but that it goes on for the rest of next year as well and as you know when we are called for a celebration and to celebrate somebody's birthday we all gather and unite with joy and as both Robert and Julia has said the joy of the Lord is our strength so we come with that strength to you know lift each other up to edify each other to share with each other so that's the spirit with which I want us to go out from here today but carry on for the days ahead and the year ahead and with that also comes that knowing and believing that he's gone ahead and prepared the way for us he's opened doors that no man can shut and wherever you go you will meet with great favor because he's gone ahead of us so in every area let us look up to him let us understand him let us be able to were belies and talk to him openly and boldly for our heart's desires and be rest assured he will provide the desires of our heart so Heavenly Father I thank you that we as we gather here today father God to celebrate your birthday we stand here in unity we stand here in one Accord we stand here in one heart Lord God rejoicing for your birth Lord God out of which came our salvation and our Redemption we thank you for it father as each and every one present here today as they go out let them go out strong in you Lord God strong in your word and in your plan and your purpose for each and every one's life and let the joy of the Lord be our strength and let us be able to radiate that into the lives and into the hearts of all those we come across we thank you Lord God for your faithfulness we thank you for all that you have provided for each and every one of us and we thank you Lord God that we will continue working and walking in you Lord God for the fulfillment of what plans and purpose and desires you have for each and every one of our lives you thank you now father that as each one goes their separate ways that you've gone ahead and you put a hedge of protection and a hedge of joy and a hedge of having a celebration for your birthday in Jesus name I pray amen and we love your church have a fantastic day we'll see Christmas Eve tonight or Christmas Day tomorrow be blessed thanks Dominic [Music] I give the whole my whole life [Music] Morgaine in full [Applause] [Music] I [Music] yes [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] let's have the best Christmas Eve like

Channel: Hillsong Church

Views: 16,559

Rating: 4.8295083 out of 5

Keywords: jesus, hillsong, praise, worship, Robert Fergusson

Id: TtViU-gaEWg

Length: 85min 32sec (5132 seconds)

Published: Sat Dec 23 2017