<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

It Is Written Canada

Immanuel God with Us

Chris Holland

Immanuel God with Us- Part 1

God's book, the Bible, still relevant in today's complex world.

It is written sharing messages of hope around the world.

Christmas has always been a favorite time of the year for me.

The smells, the trees, the lights and the snow.

But you know, it is amazing that this special time of the year for families is also 1 of the most stressful.

As the commercial pressures of the Christmas holiday has steadily increased over the years, more and more people seem to enjoy Christmas less and less.

Could it be that there is something more?

Could it be that this season has a deeper and truer meaning?

Could it be that the real reason behind this season is something that will give us inner peace?

Could it be that each of us really needs the experience of a silent night?

♪ I've made the same mistake before Too many malls, too many stores December traffic, Christmas rush It breaks me till I push and shove Children are crying while mothers are trying To photograph Santa enslaved We're shopping and buying and standing forever in line.

I need a silent night, a holy night, To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise.

I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here.

To end this crazy day with a silent night.

December comes and disappears, Faster and faster every year.

Did my own mother keep this pace Or was the world a different place Where people stayed home wishing for snow Watching 3 channels on their TV Look at us now running around I need a silent night, a holy night to hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise.

I need a silent night, a holy night, to hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise.

I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here To end this crazy day with a silent night What was it like back there in Bethlehem?

With peace on earth, goodwill toward men.

There were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were so afraid.

And the angels said, fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that shall be for all people.

For unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace.

♪ I need a silent night, a holy night ♪ ♪ To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise.

Hi, my name is Mark Johnson, President of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Canada.

On behalf of the 68, 000 Seventh-Day Adventists across our great nation, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

You know, we live in a world of constant turmoil.

Wars, terrorism, political battles, illness, depression, and the list could go on and on.

It almost seems at times that this world is spiraling out of control with no plan.

But you know, the Bible actually says there is a plan, that there has always been a plan.

In fact, John 1, 1 to 5, says these words, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." That Word, that life, is the person of Jesus Christ.

His plan was not for us to spiral out of control, but the Bible says that He, Himself, is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, a world embroiled in turmoil and slaved to sin.

But God had an answer to that sin problem that each of us do face.

According to Romans 3.23, All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Ś Sleep in heavenly peace ś Sleep in in heavenly peace.

The Bible promises about Jesus in 1 Peter 1.20, He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

And now that plan was put in place on this earth.

It was a holy night that would change the course of this earth's history.

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

True and glorious morn, fall on your knees.

Oh night divine, O night when Christ was born.

Chains shall he break For the slave is our brother And in his name all oppression shall cease Sweet hymns of joy In grateful chorus raise we let all within us praise His holy name.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining.

The angels' voices, they're singing, O night divine O night when Christ was born when Christ was born.

Hi, my name is Mansfield Edwards, President of the Ontario Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists.

On behalf of the 32, 000 members in Ontario, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

That silent night, that holy night, in the hushed quietness of that night, an angel visitor came to a young girl named Mary and announced, Rejoice, highly favored 1, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women.

But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and considered what manner of greeting this was.

Then the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son and shall call his name Jesus.

Then Mary replied, How can this be, since I have not known a man?

And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the highest will overshadow you.

Therefore also, that Holy 1 who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would someday walk on water?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy Would calm the storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy Has walked where angels trod?

When you kiss your little baby You kiss the face of God The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again.

The lame will leap, the dumb will speak the praises of the Lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy would 1 day rule the nations?

Immanuel God with Us- Part 2

Can you imagine Joseph's reaction when Mary came and told him that she was pregnant?

I am sure disbelief, confusion, and disappointment all in 1.

How could this woman he was to marry be pregnant?

Could she really be pregnant with the Son of God?

An angel visitor came and shared with him what we find recorded in Matthew chapter 1.

Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Jesus, the Son of God with 1 mission, to save.

This is a special word in the original language, most often translated to save.

However, in some places it is also translated to heal.

Jesus came to save us from our sin and heal us from our pain.

He would accomplish this through his life on this earth and ultimately by his death and resurrection.

♪♪ ♪ Shepherds gazed in wonder, ♪ while angel voices sang.

This night of nights has come And brought the world a long-awaited King.

The earth is filled with wonder, and yet the heavens weep.

For heaven's eyes can see, He was born to die for me Jesus, baby Jesus Jesus, sweet baby Jesus you must know you were born to die.

It must have broken God's heart for the future you could see.

Yet He formed the hands and feet, knowing 1 day they'd be nailed to a tree.

So all the world could know Him A gift came from above For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son Baby Jesus, baby Jesus is that a tear in your eye?

Jesus, Sweet baby Jesus, you must know you were born to die.

So Jesus, thank you Jesus, for your gift of eternal life.

Baby Jesus, it's for me you were born to die.

The Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior, for thousands of years his coming had been anticipated.

But now that he had arrived, no 1 seemed to be prepared.

There were no banquets, no prepared receptions.

No crib, only a trough, a manger for the Son of God.

♪♪ ♪ Away in a manger, No crib for a bed.

The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.

The stars in the sky, look down where He lay.

The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the poor baby waits.

What little Lord Jesus, No crying He makes.

Look down from the sky And Stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay.

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care And fit us for heaven to live with thee there Bless all the dear children in thy tender care.

And fetch us for heaven to live with me there.

Can you imagine giving birth at a stable?

And there, Mary wrapped Jesus in His swaddling clothes, God's gift to this world.

♪♪ ♪ Snow was falling down that night, ♪ with no place to rest in sight.

The inn was full, so instead he was born in a stable bed.

How was she supposed to know That she wrapped him in swaddling clothes that her precious newborn baby boy would become a sacrifice.

He would run, he would laugh and play, but as a man he would bring the day When for the world he would choose to die.

Mary wrapped a present to the world On that first Christmas morn, when her baby was born, Mary wrapped up presents to the world.

There were no lighted Christmas trees, just 1 bright star for all to see, the way to Bethlehem that winter night.

Many gifts they brought to him, but a greater gift she gave to them.

For through her son would come eternal life.

Hi, my name is Emile Maxi, President of the Quebec Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

On behalf of the 8, 000 members in Quebec, I want to wish for you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

♪♪ A stable, a mother who had given birth, a child in swaddling clothes.

♪♪ ♪ Mommies and daddies always believe that their little angels are special indeed.

A shepherd, a teacher is what you could be.

Or maybe a fisherman out on the sea Or maybe a carpenter building things But who would imagine a king?

It was so real When the wise men arrived and the angels were singing your name That The world would be different cause you were alive That's why heaven stood still to proclaim 1 day an angel said quietly that soon he would bring someone special to me.

Someone special to me And of all of the wonderful Gifts he could bring Who would imagine?

His arrival, however, wouldn't go completely unnoticed.

And in those 2 groups and their reception of Jesus, there is a lesson for each of us today.

Each of us can come in response to the call of Jesus and receive the peace and goodness He offers.

Why not reach out your hand in this Christmas season and embrace the peace of being in a relationship with Him.

Said the night wind to the little lamb, do you see what I see?

Way up in the sky, little lamb, do you see what I see?

A star, a star, dancing in the night with a tail as big as a kite.

Immanuel God with Us- Part 3

And now as Mary held Jesus in her arms, she held the Creator, the Savior, and our King.

I don't know what to say when I look in your eyes.

Here I am holding you in my arms tonight.

Emmanuel You're here And I'm holding you so near I'm staring into the face of my Savior, King and Creator.

You could have left us on our own, but You're here.

I don't know how long I'm gonna have you for, but I'll be watching when you change the world.

Look at your hands, they're still so small.

But someday you're gonna stretch them out and save us all.

I'm staring into the face of my Savior, King and Creator.

You could have left us on our own, but you're here.

Some day I'm going to look back on this the night that God became my baby boy.

Someday you're gonna go home again, but you'll leave your spirit and flood the world with joy.

You'll be here and I'm holding you so near.

With his arrival, there was bound to be a change.

He came to bring peace, yet turmoil abounded.

He came to save and to heal, yet there were so many lost and diseased.

In the midst of the restlessness of the day, amidst the problems of the day, the news of His birth spread.

He lived His life to change the world, and now as we sing and hear the songs and bells of Christmas, may our hearts be warmed by the peace that He brings.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old familiar carols play And mild and sweet their songs repeat of Peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head ś There is no peace on earth I said ś For hate is strong and moths to song Of Peace on earth, goodwill to men.

Then rang the bells more loud and deep, God is not dead, nor does he sleep.

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail With peace on earth, good will to men Then singing, ringing on its way ś The earth revolves from night to day ś A chant, a chime, a voice of mine.

But those bells kept ringing Like a choir they're singing Does anybody hear them?

Hi, my name is Ken Wiebe, president of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Alberta.

On behalf of the 11, 000 Seventh-day Adventist members in Alberta, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

All that happens in this world and all that goes on in this life today.

There is 1 key to making sense of it all.

1 overarching subject that will get us through another day.

The story of His birth, His life, and His death and sacrifice for us.

You see, the story of Christmas is the story of Jesus.

The coming of Jesus is good news because He came to save us.

That is why Christmas, Christmas time is so wonderful.

Tell me the story of Jesus Right on my heart, every word Tell me the story most precious ś Sweetest that ever was heard ś Tell how the angels in Chorus sang as they welcomed his word.

Tell me the story of Jesus right on my heart everywhere.

Tell me the stormy most precious, sweetest that ever was heard.

Love in that story so tender, clearer than ever I see.

Stay, let me weep while you whisper, love paid the ransom for me.

Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard.

Hi, my name is Wayne Colmore, President of the British Columbia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

On behalf of our 11, 000 members in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The amazing statement of Romans 5, 8 is this, but God demonstrates his own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us while we were yet sinners.

Friend, it doesn't matter where you are in life.

Jesus came to bring to you real life and real happiness.

His desire is that you would find peace in your heart with Him, that you would find peace in your life, even amidst the turmoil.

Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.

With God as our Father, family all are we.

Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.

Let this be the moment that With Every step I take, let this be my solemn vow.

To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.

Back to Menu

Series

Immanuel God with Us

Immanuel God with Us- Part 1

Transcript

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

Parts