Bethel Church Service | Bill Johnson Sermon | Worship with Paul McClure, Hannah McClure

the energy up. That's [laughter] >> good morning. >> Yes. Don't trademark that. >> Copyrighter. Whatever. Welcome to Bethl Church. >> Good morning, good afternoon, or good night, depending on where you're tuning in from. It's so good to have you. >> And merry Christmas. >> It's almost Christmas. >> Almost Christmas.

It's almost here. >> Merry Christmas everybody. >> I've been celebrating for a long time, but now that it's almost here, I'm like, "Oo, >> long time." >> Although we've been celebrating on the inside of our house, Daddy hasn't been celebrating on the outside of her house. >> Get to the outside. >> Normally, I do my Christmas lights right after Thanksgiving.

I have not done anything. >> Yeah. which the kids reminded me >> just trying to survive right now. [laughter] >> That's the goal. >> It's always another Christmas. But >> we would love to know where you're tuning in from and where you're joining us from. So if you want, please share in the chat where you're tuning in from.

We'd love to give you a shout out. >> Mike and Lynn, we see you on Bethl online. >> Michelle, Jody, Lynn, Joanie, good to see you. Merry Christmas right there. Good evening from Germany. Good to see you. Up shoot >> 48. I don't know why I was trying to put a German accent on it.

It didn't work very well. Ruth, uh, you affected the shot there, though. >> You affected the shot. She changed it. All the production people are upset at you now. [laughter] >> I'm so sorry. I'll go and apologize later with coffee and things. People are um Sergio saying Brazil. Hello from Brazil.

The Brazil is taking over the >> Sergio Renzo, we see you. Good morning. >> We're [laughter] so glad that you're joining us. um >> tuning in from the the state up north. Good to see you, Joy. >> The state up north. >> I don't I don't say their name.

[laughter] >> People won't know that from other countries, but that's there's a big rivalry between Ohio and Michigan. >> The state up north. >> The state [laughter] also known as Michigan. Okay. Um let us know what you are needing prayer for this morning. How we can minister to you and bless you.

We'd love to um just be able to to pray for some people. Christmas is um a time that brings up a lot of emotion. >> Tell me about it. [laughter] >> Especially when that person's pregnant [laughter] comment. I I think >> February, you got another baby coming. >> A lot of [laughter] emotions. >> You know that whole saying >> I wasing other things apart from >> she's making a list.

He's checking it twice. Well, with a pregnant wife during Christmas, she's making a list and then another list and then another list. Another list. Another list. And then she doesn't check it twice. She checks it twice every hour. >> Right. [laughter] >> If you're like me and you need a list, put it in the comments. >> List go to a whole new level right now. >> Steve, I I'm not 100% myself, but I'll get there in a few more weeks. >> No, she she I remember one time uh >> Don't share everything we >> No, this is after our second child, I think.

Was it our second child or third child? >> We're not going to share that one here because [laughter] I know what you're gonna share. No, it was just that we I we were having a little conversation little conversation about how she needs a little bit more and I disappear because that's just kind of our dysfunction with >> we're supposed to pray for people. >> But she doesn't laugh as much when she was pregnant with me at my jokes.

My jokes aren't as funny. >> I thought I was fine until I revisited some of the jokes that I didn't laugh at pregnant and figured out that actually >> we were hanging out with friends. We were doing stuff. Sorry. Sorry. We're back here. Back to you about Jesus.

[laughter] >> Please pray for my sinuses. I can't seem to get this nervous system. Please help me with that. Yes. There you go, love. >> Thank you. Magdalina said she uh needs prayer. Popped her arm shoulder reaching for her back. Just as I read that, I was like, let's let's pray right now.

Like I I have a lot of faith for um the Lord to completely heal you. So God, I thank you right now. restore her arm and shoulder in the name of Jesus. All pain go. I just see saw you trying to move it again. Um and the Lord just oiling that and making it new.

So God, we thank you for that. Sandy, we see you're asking for healing from MS. Um Magdal Magdalena, uh with the arm, let us know how that is, too. Um there's somebody here that put about feeling hopeless as well. So, I I know we made jokes about all the pregnancy emotions, but actually the emotions around Christmas can be when you've gone through grief or loss or >> Yeah. >> Um the year's not being what you hoped or things coming up that that it can be magnified over Christmas.

And I actually felt like the Lord wanted to meet with some of you that were feeling hopelessness or like um that grief was being magnified or um almost just a sense of I don't know even know how to get through this week without um someone that I love or with what's going on.

And so if that's you, we actually want to gather around you. My heart is that you wouldn't feel lonely and alone at Christmas, but you'd know that even being part of this community that you are covered and surrounded and loved and that the Lord is with you. And so if you are feeling that way um or even just loneliness, then go ahead and put in the chat and we want to together pray for you. >> Sounds great.

Powerful. [laughter] >> Okay, >> come on. I don't know. Um Aaron said that he recently lost his job of 13 years. Please pray I recover all. Yeah, that's a word that that Bill has been releasing. You want to pray for that? >> Yeah, absolutely. Father, we just thank you right now for grace.

And Father, we just thank you just for peace in the middle of everything right now. That's her daughter Olivia handing out the phone. Good job, sweetie. And uh she didn't want to go to kids church today. Real parenting life right there. Back in prayer mode. Go ahead and hold out your hands like you're about to receive a gift. and then we want to pray.

But father, I thank you right now for peace and grace coming on people. Father, we thank you for breakthrough. Sorry, my daughter's uh distracting me in a very cute way. Uh but Father, I thank you right now for peace, grace, breakthrough, God. And Father, we just release [laughter] Hi, you're very cute.

But father, I just thank you right now for peace and grace and breakthrough right now in Jesus name for everything to be recovered right now. We just release grace over people's bodies and we release peace, peace, peace, peace in Jesus name. >> Um, no no rats. I'm not sure what the actual name is, but says the the loneliness thing um really spoke to them and so uh we just ask that the Lord would meet you and surround you right now.

Um, people got praying for restoration. Also, I saw this from um, Marali, I'm so sorry if I'm I'm saying your name wrong, but um, you said that your niece was just diagnosed with acute leukemia. >> Um, so, anyone that's just received a a bad report or a diagnosis, we also saw regenerated life um, stage 4 uh, cancer with Henry asking for prayer.

So, anyone that's just received a bad diagnosis for you or your family member right now, we declare that the Lord would [laughter] change it around and turn it around right now in the name of Jesus. God, we thank you um for her for Masala's niece. We declare all leukemia to leave in the name of Jesus.

For the Lord to make uh her blood new in Jesus name. God, we thank you for cancer bowing the knee to the name of Jesus. Pain leaving in the name of Jesus. God, I thank you for miracles, miracles, signs, and wonders in Jesus' name. And as always, please put in the chat if you're feeling and noticing a difference.

Keep us posted and keep us updated. Doing shadow puppets. We have an amazing day today. We got Bill bringing the word. We got Paul and Anna McCclar doing worship. We're so excited that you're joining us. If you want to be checking out your body throughout the service, we want to figure out what Jesus is doing and then we will follow back with you at the end of service.

But we're so glad that you're joining us. So, God bless you guys. >> Bless you. have a wonderful service and we'll see you at the end. >> Yeah, I'm sure. >> Hello. Hello. Hello. Hey, everybody. Why don't we stand up this morning? Merry Christmas to everybody. Merry Christmas. >> How's everyone this morning?

You guys feeling good? >> If you're watching online, hello. How are you? If you are online and not in the building today, if you're not local, uh it is wet and cold and windy today. It is uh if you're in church today, you love the Lord today. So, it it it's uh it's a unique outside.

Um but we are we are excited. How many of you are ready for Christmas? You guys feel good? A few of you, a few of you need to get excited, more excited than you are. So, my my house is uh you guys don't know, you don't live with me, but uh my wife is my wife is a unique Christmas person al together.

So, in my living room right now, I have two Christmas trees fully decorated. In my house, there is seven, right? Seven Christmas trees total in my house. I am. Listen, we are way past normal in the house. I have a tree in the kitchen that is decorated with kitchen utensils.

Oh, yeah. Yeah. You're laughing. You're laughing. This is my This is my life. This is what I This is my life. I have a tree on the porch that I I don't ever see. Just when you walk in and walk out, the neighbors, I don't know how they feel about it, but I have a tree on the porch.

The kids' rooms have trees. It's a very it's a very festive time of the year and so much work goes into the Christmas season at our house. Um that come mid January, I just want to just be honest with you, I will still have trees up come mid January.

Um mostly cuz it's too much work and and Leah said we're going to look at them as long as we can possibly uh look at them. Uh so so that is fun. And and then we're doing Christmas. Anybody in the middle of Christmas shopping right now? If if you do Christmas shopping, how many of you are finished?

How many of you have not started? Men, raise your hand. A few of you haven't started. John's like, "I'm the missions pastor. I've been in other countries." Um, we're in the middle of Christmas shopping and uh, you know, just trying your best. And uh, then we do stock any stocking people around.

Leah's family does stockings and so we put random Harbor Freight things. Do you know what I mean? which is just a little tip. If you don't know, Harbor Freight is the best stocking place on the planet. >> Random Harbor Freight things. And so we love Christmas. And listen, I'm making a point.

All of that. Here's where here's where the Lord comes in. You ready? All of that. And it still pairs in pales in comparison to how good the Lord is. ((applause)) >> How he's just so good, right? It says twice. It says twice in the gospels that as much as as much as I try to be a good dad, as much as Leah tries to be a great mom, and listen, if it was if it was stuck, if my kids were just stuck with me without Leah, they would get like cereal for Christmas and be like, be thankful.

Do you know what I'm saying? But but my kids experience the glory of Christmas. Oh, thank you for that behind me. I love that. Thank you. The glory of Christmas, uh, cously. as much as we try, it still pales in comparison to how good the Lord is and the gifts that he wants to bestow on us.

And uh in in a season like this, um you know, some of us are super pumped about about Christmas and spending time with family and there's others that are challenged by the season or challenged by family and all of those things. And I'm just here to say that uh that God is good no matter what season you're in, no matter what circumstance you're in, no matter what.

And God has good things for you. And and we believe we were praying this morning. We believe that today is a great day for God to extend his blessing on your life and to give away good things today. You guys believe that? >> Listen, let's be expectant today, right?

Um my kids are excited about Christmas. They're going to get lots of stuff. But more than that, we're excited about what he did for us and the gift that is Jesus for us. You guys excited about that? >> Listen, we're excited, too. We're going to enter into worship in just a moment, but you're with some amazing people.

Really look around. Look at their faces. Amazing people. Amazing gifts from the Lord. Would you just take a moment and would you love on a few people next to you? Wish a few people a merry Christmas. Give some hugs out. Say hello to some people. And then we'll get into worship. >> ((music playing)) >> Heaven's ((music playing)) silence has been broken.

My heart sings hallelujah. >> With the child ((music playing)) God is spoken. >> My heart sings hallelujah. ((music playing)) Everything changes. Oh, everything changes. Angels ((music playing)) come with words of wonder. >> My heart sings hallelujah. ((music playing)) >> Freedom from the curse we're under. My heart sings hallelujah. [music and singing] Everything changes. Oh, everything changes. Oh, ((music playing)) glory.

Glory in the high ((music playing)) sky. We praise you. Savior, savior to the lost. ((music playing)) Jesus. ((music playing)) Jesus our redeemer here to save ((music playing)) us. My heart sings heart sings hallelujah. ((music playing)) Here we go incarnation. >> My heart sings hallelujah. ((music playing)) >> He's come to seek him and bring salvation. My heart sings [music and singing] hallelujah. Oh, everything changes.

Yes, everything changes. ((music playing)) Glory. Oh, glory. Glory to the highest God. We ((music playing)) praise you, Savior. Savior to the lost. ((music playing)) Jesus. Jesus our redeemer here to save us. My heart sings. Heart ((music playing)) sings hallelujah. Come a little closer ((music playing)) to him. Come a little closer. Sing a little louder. Join with all the angels ((music playing)) worshiping you.

Come a little closer. Sing a ((music playing)) little loud. Join with all the angels. Come on, sing it again. Come ((music playing)) a little closer, sing a little loud, join with all the angels, worship him. ((music playing)) Come a little closer, sing a little loud, join with all the angels, worship ((music playing)) him. Come a little closer, sing a little loud.

((music playing)) Join with all the angels, worship him. Come a little closer, sing a little. Adorn ((music playing)) with all the angels worship him. Glory, ((music playing)) glory in the highest God. We praise you. Savior, ((music playing)) savior to the lost and broken. Oh ((music playing)) Jesus, Jesus our redeemer here to save us. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Yeah. Heat.

((music playing)) ((music playing)) Yeah, my heart sings. Heart sings. Hallelujah. ((music playing)) Come on, we lift a shout of praise ((music playing)) to Jesus. ((music playing)) Hark the herald [singing] angels ((music playing)) sing. Glory to the newborn [singing] king. ((music playing)) Peace on earth and mercy mild. God in sinners [singing] reconile. ((music playing)) Joyful [singing] all ye nations ((music playing)) rise. Join the triumph of the skies with angelic ((music playing)) host proclaim.

Christ ((music playing)) is born [singing] in Bethlehem. Hark ((music playing)) the herald angels sing. Glory [music and singing] to the newborn king. ((music playing)) The ((music playing)) newborn king. Sing. Hail the heaven. Oh, hail the heavenborn ((music playing)) prince of [singing] peace. Hail the son of rightuousness. ((music playing)) [singing] Light and life to all [singing] he brings. Risen with healing ((music playing)) in his wings. Mild he lays [singing] his ((music playing)) glory by.

Born that man [music and singing] no more may die. Born to raise ((music playing)) the sons of earth. wants ((music playing)) to give them second [singing] birth. Hark ((music playing)) the herald angels [singing] sing. Glory ((music playing)) to the newb born [music and singing] king. Come on. Can we give him praise today? ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Long ((music playing)) we've waited with expectation, ((music playing)) longly afraid ((music playing)) with anticipation.

((music playing)) But suddenly there is a light in the darkness. It's ((music playing)) shining in Bethlehem. This is the ((music playing)) morning. This is the night. Squire of angels. Glory to ((music playing)) God. His peace on the earth. His joy to the world. The Savior has come ((music playing)) down and heaven is here. Behold the redeemer, ((music playing)) God of the aes.

Behold the Messiah. ((music playing)) He's mighty to save us. ((music playing)) Oh, everyone see there's a light in the darkness. It's ((music playing)) shining in Bethlehem. This is the moment. This is [singing] the night. Sing choir of angels. ((music playing)) Glory to God. His peace on the earth. His joy to the world. The Savior ((music playing)) has come down.

This is the moment. ((music playing)) This is the night. Sing choir of angels. Glory to God. His peace on ((music playing)) the earth to the world. The savior has come down. ((music playing)) All glory is unto the king. Unto the king. We fall ((music playing)) down. and worship ((music playing)) the king. Worship the king to the king.

((music playing)) Unto the king before him ((music playing)) and worship the king. This is the moment. This is the night. Sing choir [singing] of angels. Glory to God. His peace on the ((music playing)) earth. He's joy to the world. The savior come down. ((music playing)) This is the moment. This is the light. Sing of angels. ((music playing)) Glory to God.

Peace on the earth. Joy to ((music playing)) the world. Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heaven is here. ((music playing)) Oh [singing] yes, heaven is ((music playing)) here. Oh love, calm ((music playing)) down. Yes, heaven is here. We ((music playing)) thank you Jesus for your good gift. The love came down for us. Heaven is here. Let's ((music playing)) sing. Joy to the world.

((music playing)) Joy [singing] to the world. The Lord is come. Let earth receive [singing] her king. ((music playing)) Let every [singing] heart ((music playing)) prepare him rule. [singing] And heaven and nature ((music playing)) sing. And heaven and nature [singing] sing. And heaven. Heaven and earth. Sing. He rules ((music playing)) the world. He [singing] rules the world with ((music playing)) truth and grace and makes ((music playing)) the nations [singing] prove the glories [singing] of his rightuousness ((music playing)) and wonders of ((music playing)) his love.

[singing] and wonders of his love and wonders, [singing] wonders of joy to the world. One more time. Joy [music and singing] to the world, the Lord is ((music playing)) come. Let earth receive. ((music playing)) Let every heart prepare him ((music playing)) room in heaven and nature sing. In heaven and nature [singing] see in heaven. ((music playing)) Heaven and nature ((music playing)) see. Come on.

That's good news this morning. Thank you Jesus. [applause and music] >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Love incarnate, wrapped in flesh. Heaven bent to ((music playing)) dwell with us. Oh, what a mystery. [music and singing] Oh, what a mystery. The ((music playing)) sacred gift to break the curse. The father's ((music playing)) heart revealed to us. Oh, what a joyous ((music playing)) thing. Oh, what a joyous thing.

Come on, sing. Oh, come. Oh ((music playing)) come let us [singing] adore him. Oh come let us adore him. Christ ((music playing)) the Lord for he alone is worthy. For he alone ((music playing)) is worthy. ((music playing)) Behold the lamb of righteousness. Let ((music playing)) every heart and surprise. Let all the earth ((music playing)) rejoice. Let all the earth rejoice.

((music playing)) Remaining no accusing voice. Thank you Jesus. ((music playing)) his resurrection [singing] power in us. Triumph in Jesus name. ((music playing)) We're triumphing in Jesus name. ((music playing)) Oh come let us adore him. Oh come let us adore ((music playing)) him. Christ the Lord. For ((music playing)) he alone is worthy. For he alone is worthy. ((music playing)) His sing ((music playing)) will sing of the good news.

The heavens ((music playing)) have made all creation praise. ((music playing)) You will see of his ((music playing)) goodness. God of salvation all you ((music playing)) see the ((music playing)) heavens. All ((music playing)) of creation praise you. Oh sing. We sing ((music playing)) of his goodness. Oh God of salvation. ((music playing)) All creation praise you. Oh ((music playing)) come let us adore him. >> ((music playing)) >> Yes, we will.

Christ ((music playing)) for he alone is worthy. For he alone is worthy. Come see. ((music playing)) Oh come let [singing] us adore him. Oh come ((music playing)) let usore. [singing] Oh Christ ((music playing)) the Lord. For he ((music playing)) alone [singing] is worthy. For he alone is worthy. Yes he is. Oh he is worthy of all of the praise. Oh he is worthy.

Come on church. Will you ((music playing)) lift your voice today? Tell him he's worthy. Tell him he's holy. Come on, magnifying the name of the Lord today. Worthy is the ((music playing)) Lord. Worthy is your name. ((music playing)) Oh, we magnify the name of Jesus. The only ((music playing)) name that can save. He is Jesus.

((music playing)) Worthy is the lamb. We adore you, King of Kings. ((music playing)) Come on, lift your hands and sing. Oh come, let us adore ((music playing)) him. Oh, come let us adore him. ((music playing)) Oh come let us adore ((music playing)) him Christ. ((music playing)) He is worthy. Oh he is worthy of all the praise, ((music playing)) the honor and the glory.

Heat. Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> Yes. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Yeah. ((music playing)) Heat. ((music playing)) Christ will ((music playing)) praise your name forever. We'll praise your ((music playing)) name forever. We'll praise [singing] your ((music playing)) name forever Christ ((music playing)) Lord. Come on, we just begin to lift up praise and adoration to him today. ((music playing)) Praise and thanksgiving. Come on church, lift your voice.

We sing ((music playing)) the name of Jesus. Oh Jesus, Jesus. Jesus, the ((music playing)) only one who is worthy. The only one who is worthy. Come on, every hand raise a single ((music playing)) praise. Oh, you praise your name for it, ((music playing)) Jesus. We'll praise. All the anointed ((music playing)) will praise you. ((music playing)) Come on. Sing it one more time.

((music playing)) Oh, his name ((music playing)) is Jesus. We pray. Worthy ((music playing)) Jesus ((music playing)) Christ. ((music playing)) Oh Christ the ((music playing)) Lord. We adore you. King of kings. ((music playing)) We magnify your name. ((music playing)) Come on, let's sing. Oh, come and Oh, come [singing] let us adore ((music playing)) him. >> Oh, come [singing] let us ((music playing)) adore him. Oh come let [singing and music] us adore in ((music playing)) Christ. >> Come on let's sing for he alone is worthy.

Will you ((music playing)) raise your hands and sing that for he [singing] alone is worth. >> Come on tell him today. ((music playing)) Oh for he alone [singing] is worth. ((music playing)) >> Yes you are. For he alone is [singing] worth the Christ the Lord. Oh holy night, the stars [singing] are brightly shining. It is the night of our [singing] dear Savior's ((music playing)) birth.

Long lay [singing] the world in sin and abide till he [singing] appeared. And the soul felt his [music and singing] worth. A thrill of hope. The [singing] weery world rejoicees ((music playing)) for yonder [singing] praise. A new and glorious [singing] night ((music playing)) for [singing] on your knees. ((music playing)) Oh, here the angel voice ((music playing)) says, "Oh, divine. [music and singing] Oh night when Christ ((music playing)) was born.

Oh [singing] ((music playing)) divine. Oh life. >> [music and singing] >> on a divine. Truly ((music playing)) he taught [singing] us to love one another. His law is love and his God [singing] is peace. ((music playing)) and chains shall he break. For the [music and singing] slave is a brother [screaming] ((music playing)) and in his name all oppression [singing] ((music playing)) shall cease. Yes. Sweet hands of ((music playing)) joy in grateful [singing] ((music playing)) race.

We let all within [singing] us praise ((music playing)) his holy name. [singing] Christ ((music playing)) is the Lord. Oh, praise ((music playing)) his name [singing] forever. ((music playing)) His glory [singing] ((music playing)) were [singing] more proclaimed. is power ((music playing)) and glora. [screaming] Oh, we [singing] proclaim you. Oh, ((music playing)) oh, we praise [music and singing] his holy name. Oh, oh, singer. Oh, praise his ((music playing)) holy name. ((music playing)) Oh, praise [singing] his holy name.

((music playing)) Oh, we'll praise [singing] his ((music playing)) holy name. Oh, we'll praise his holy ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> Oh, praise ((music playing)) you. Oh, yes we will. Yes, we will. Oh, praises. ((music playing)) All ((music playing)) your voices and praise. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) Heat. Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Oh, ((music playing)) his name ((music playing)) [screaming] for more proclaim. We proclaim thank you Jesus and we give thanks.

((music playing)) Come on, give thanks right now. I give thanks. >> Oh, we [singing] give thanks. ((music playing)) Oh, [singing and music] we proclaim your goodness, your faithfulness, and we give thanks ((music playing)) for your goodness, your kindness. ((music playing)) Oh, we give thanks. Oh, [singing] we give thanks. ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> High [singing] King of heaven, you stepped from your throne, took on our flesh ((music playing)) and made [singing] this world your home.

Trembling ((music playing)) in [singing] reverence, Lord, we look above. Overcome ((music playing)) by [singing] such unmarited love. ((music playing)) Jesus my savior. ((music playing)) I bow at [singing] your birth. On by the mercy ((music playing)) that brought you to earth. Dreaming the [music and singing] angels in glorious light for ((music playing)) the deep shadows of Bethlehem's night. Oh, ((music playing)) [singing] what a wonder. ((music playing)) How could it be?

((music playing)) Oh, ((music playing)) sacred mystery. [singing] The high king of heaven [singing and music] born low to save me. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Gracious ((music playing)) redeemer, you looked upon me. Long ((music playing)) before Eden, you knew my green. [singing] Woven ((music playing)) through history. A [singing] rich crimson thread. Your ((music playing)) plan salvation in this manger bed. Oh, what a wonder. ((music playing)) How could it be? ((music playing)) Oh, [singing] sacred ((music playing)) mystery.

The high king of [singing] heaven ((music playing)) to save me. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> our affection. Our devotion poured out on [singing] the ((music playing)) feet of Jesus. Our face are deep ((music playing)) on the feet. Come on, sing it out. I see ((music playing)) a fiction for ((music playing)) the feet of Jesus. ((music playing)) I worship ((music playing)) Jesus. We love ((music playing)) you. Yes, we do.

((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> in our de ((music playing)) Jesus ((music playing)) is Heat. Heat. Heat. ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> Jesus. Oh Jesus. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Oh Jesus. Oh ((music playing)) Jesus. >> ((music playing)) >> Oh, it's Jesus. ((music playing)) It's Jesus. ((music playing)) Come on. Would you just lift your own song today? Lift a song of adoration to to your first love, Jesus. ((music playing)) Oh, how I love you. >> It's Oh, how I love you.

Come on, open up the wells of praise today. Come on. Even if it's just a melody, just raise ((music playing)) your voice. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. ((music playing)) Your children sing. We love you. ((music playing)) We sing a melody to you. A melody of worship ((music playing)) to the king. Come on, just another few moments. ((music playing)) Lift your voice.

Lift your voice. >> ((music playing)) >> Adoration to ((music playing)) the father. Adoration to ((music playing)) our first love. It is Jesus. The only one who's worthy. The only ((music playing)) one who's worthy. ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Come on with a thankful heart. Sing this. Oh Jesus we love. Yes. for how we love cuz ((music playing)) you are the one [singing] of our hearts.

Come on, would you raise your hands across the room? Sing ((music playing)) it straight to his heart today. Oh Jesus, [singing] we love you. ((music playing)) >> Yes. Oh, how [singing] ((music playing)) we ((music playing)) >> cuz you [singing] are the one our hearts. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) Hebrews 1 verse one says, "Long ago and many times in many ways God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these ((music playing)) last days he has spoken to us by his son whom he appointed the heir of all things through whom also he created ((music playing)) the world and he is the radiance of the glory of God.

He is the exact ((music playing)) imprint of his nature and he upholds the universe by the word of his power and after making purification ((music playing)) for sins he sat down at the right hand of the ((music playing)) majesty on high. Colossians 1 verse 20 verse 19 ((music playing)) it says for him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell ((music playing)) and through him to reconcile to himself.

Say with me all all things whether on earth or in heaven making peace by the ((music playing)) blood of his cross. As we were singing all the the songs about Christmas and Jesus coming, I I kept thinking about how this little baby in a manger that shepherds came ((music playing)) to see and Anna and Simeon celebrated that that little baby was also the ancient of days.

That that little baby was upholding the universe by the word of his power in that moment. that that little baby sitting in the food trough of an animal would become our bread and our wine, our sustenance, our resource for healing, for for reconciliation, for hope, and for the ((music playing)) establishment of the reign of his peace.

And we're going to take communion today. And uh I have it in my pocket. Uh we are going to take communion today. I'm going to ask that you stand with me as we do so. If if you have communion with you, would you grab it? If you need some, just raise your hand and our ushers will move through and and bring you some communion.

If you're online, if you want to grab some elements as well to take with us, we would love to take it together as a family. ((music playing)) Just raise your hands in this room if you need any any of the elements. ((music playing)) We got a hand over here and a couple in the back.

Amen. ((music playing)) If you would, if you're able to, would you stand with me? We're going to take it together as a family. So, if you want to ((music playing)) join together with a couple of people that are around you in 1 Corinthians 11, I think it's right around 23, ((music playing)) Paul talks about communion.

And I remember as a little girl in the Methodist church ((music playing)) reciting this from our our liturgy that Jesus on the night on which he was betrayed. ((music playing)) He took the bread and he said, "This is my body broken for you." So if you want to just open it up and take out the bread.

((music playing)) I believe the Lord wants to heal people today in this room. I I heard the uh neuropathy. I heard that the Lord wants to heal people of ((music playing)) neuropathy today. If that is you, would you just wave your hand above your head if you're dealing with neuropathy? I I ((music playing)) see hands there.

I see issues with the feet as well. Uh maybe flatfootedness creating issues with your back. I feel like the Lord is wanting to heal that. Also felt like the Lord wanted to heal uh uh ringing in the ears, ((music playing)) tonitis. Um if that is you just received migraines. Hallelujah.

Uh if I didn't call out a word of knowledge, just grab the bread with me. God God wants to heal. He paid. ((music playing)) It's It says that he Jesus healed all. He he healed all who came to him. Acts 10:38 said that ((music playing)) uh the disciples all who were sick, they were healed.

The Lord wants to. He paid for it. Your healing has been paid for in full. There's nothing left to do. There's nothing uh but our partnership with what Christ has done. Our amen to his yes. >> ((music playing)) >> So, if you want to take that bread and and in groups right now, just pick someone to pray and just pray over this bread.

If uh Bill often says he likes ((music playing)) to break it in his hand to remember Jesus' body was broken. So, break that in your hand as you ((music playing)) pray. It was broken so that we could be healed. ((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) >> my s away. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. ((music playing)) Thank you, Lord.

You're healing thyroid issues right now, Jesus. ((music playing)) Continue to pray. Thank you, Lord, that you're touching brokenness in our bodies and brokenness in the body. You're healing families ((music playing)) where there is brokenness in families. Jesus, thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. where there is where there are rogue cancer cells in the body.

Lord, we thank you. Your body was broken ((music playing)) so that we could be made whole and you can take the bread we take and we eat in remembrance. ((music playing)) And we receive right now, Lord Jesus. We receive your broken body. We receive the lashes that you received on your back for our our reconciliation.

((music playing)) Lord Jesus, we thank you. We thank you, Lord. >> ((music playing)) >> And then in 1 Corinthians 11, it says, "This is the cup of the new covenant." The blood of the new covenant. Jesus says, "A new commandment I give to you ((music playing)) that you love one another as I have loved you."

Hebrews 12 said that it is the blood of Christ that speaks a better word. The blood of Christ that prophesies, ((music playing)) the blood of Christ that cleanses us of all sin, that heals us from all unrighteousness. ((music playing)) Would you just in your groups just pray through the blood of Jesus?

((music playing)) >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> The blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins, for salvation, for salvation. Lord, we take together ((music playing)) and we drink. ((music playing)) If you just ((music playing)) want to grab the hand of those around you. We're going to pray together. Thank you, Jesus. ((music playing)) Just grab a hand of the person beside you.

Lord ((music playing)) Jesus, we thank you. We thank you, Lord, for your your coming. Lord Jesus, we thank you that we remember this Christmas that it was the fullness of God that dwelt in that baby in a manger. That it's not just a story, Lord, but it is you and you have come that we might receive forgiveness that we might be reconciled to the father.

Lord Jesus, right now over this community, over this congregation, those in the room, and those online, Lord Jesus, we pray for the hope of God. Now may the hope of the Lord Jesus, may it rise in our hearts, Lord Jesus. We cast off any weight or heaviness of the enemy, the rod of the oppressor that would want to weigh us down.

And we step in, Lord Jesus, ((music playing)) by your blood and by your flesh. We enter into the new and living way. You have made a way, God, where there is no way. Would you just pray right now blessing over those that stand beside you? Pray for the blessing of ((music playing)) God, a spirit of breakthrough, the hope of God, the peace that passes all understanding.

He is the lifter of our heads. Thank you, Jesus. ((music playing)) Thank you, Lord. Lord, we thank you for provision this Christmas season, Lord. We thank you for breakthrough, Lord Jesus, in households, Lord, in relationships. God, we receive you today, Jesus, and we bless our brothers and sisters. We bless them.

Mark them with ((music playing)) blessing, Lord. Make their ((music playing)) houses of miracles in Jesus name. Amen. ((music playing)) Amen. Hallelujah. We can give the Lord a hand. ((applause)) Would you do me a favor real quick and just through the service, will you test out your body to see has anyone noticed any change in their body since we prayed? 50% or more.

I see a hand over there. Anyone else notice? I see a hand over there. Change. We bless what God is doing all over this room. We thank you, Jesus. We thank you, Lord, for your healing. Amen. Amen. If you got a seat next to you, if you can just raise your hand, slip up your hand so that our family here can find their seats.

All right. Well, you made it. Glad you're here. Look at somebody next to you and say, "I'm glad you are here." Amen. Amen. Well, we want to welcome you this morning. My name is Dante. I'm the associate youth pastor here. And this is my lovely wife, Chantel. >> Hello.

Good morning, everybody. >> Yep. Glad we are here this morning with y'all. We just want to first of all wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year. But uh is there any is there any new first time guests here? Can you just raise your hand? Amazing.

Merry Christmas. We're glad you're here. You could have chose to be anywhere in the world today and you chose to be with us and we are so glad you're here cousins. We're so glad you're here. >> If you want to keep your hand raised, we'll have ushers come around and pass you something if you're if it's your first week here. >> Yeah.

Someone from your family will give you something. Well, one thing that we're doing um this holidays is, you know, we're having um family traditions. We are 10 years married next year and Yes, Lord. Shant Shantel sometimes says like um happily married for like the last like four, but we've been figuring it out.

Been figuring it out. She's been doing the work on me. >> Five years. Happily married. >> You've been doing a great You've been doing a great work on me. I'm saying that in front of everybody. >> But we've been doing different family traditions and um one of our traditions we do a um holiday uh cookie Christmas competition.

So we we all decorate cookies. Um my my boys >> on November 1st. Anybody November 1st Christmas people? Not >> I know. I know. So So I used to fight it. I used to fight it. She's Canadian. So the Christmas starts after uh Thanksgiving which is in October and then we fight.

So we've met in the middle but then years later I realized we didn't meet in the middle. We're way more on your side. And and so >> but unlike Gabe who keeps his trees up till mid January, ours goes down January 1st on the dot. >> That's true. >> So we we technically celebrate Christmas for the same amount of time. >> Yeah.

So anyways, we've been doing family traditions and knowing great family traditions. Well, one I got a testimony. Uh one of our traditions is uh I read um you know the Christmas story uh before we open up the gifts and um all of us are most of us hopefully all of us are believers in this room.

And so our goal for Christmas is that Jesus is the reason for the season. And so we're trying to instill in our kids that when we're in a culture of give me, give me, give me, what's my next gift? And so we've been doing different things and we read the Christmas story.

And my son said to us the other day, uh this is about two days ago. He was like, I'm so excited for Christmas day because my favorite part is when we come out in the morning and we read the Christmas story. And I tried to not react to it.

I was like, "Yes, yes, son. Great, great answer. Great answer." And then he was like, "And then we open up the presents." And I'm like, I love that. And one thing we've been doing this year is Advent. And I actually didn't know the full meaning of Advent. And Shantel, um, we started, was it December 1st, where we do something each day?

And it's been amazing. Like questions like, um, who did you forgive today? Or what's one thing that Jesus has asked you to do that was hard for you to do? and our family every day we've been doing this fun advent when usually in the past it's been uh grabb you know you get a little gift and then you know you open up the little you know the things that countdown to Christmas but instead uh Chantel had this amazing idea to do Advent and it's been an amazing time and I just love that during these times during the holidays we get to to hold fast to tradition.

I I just think there's something really powerful about tradition and and I and I love that our family and our families here. There's things that we get to do each year and and I'm just excited about the holidays. And so I I want to do something just really quick during this announcement.

Um, I I want you to put the hand on the person next to you really quick. And I want you to pray that this year that traditions that that Jesus being the reason for the season would be realized at a greater level in this holiday season. Just really quick for for 10 seconds, just pray over the person next to you. this reason, Jesus, what he's done.

Amen. Amen. Well, that's our announcements. That's all we got. >> Merry Christmas everyone. >> Merry Christmas. >> Church news. ((applause)) Hey, Bethl family. Happy Christmas. >> Merry Christmas and happy new year. >> It's not what I expected. ((music playing)) >> No, that's super lame. Welcome to week three of a very flannel Christmas.

I'm Dan Fairley. I'm one of your senior leaders. Believe it or not, >> I'm also one of your senior leaders, which is concerning. >> It is concerning. Bethl family, thank you so much for your generosity that you've poured out over the course of this year. As we step into the season of year-end giving, we recognize that so many of you are prayerfully considering different giving options.

You can go to bethl.com/give or you can reach out to our team by emailing them at givingbethl.com. We're excited to launch our winter 2026 equip classes starting Sunday, January 11th. Each class will run 4 to 6 weeks and they've been designed to equip the saints for works of service.

So increasing your understanding of scripture, ((music playing)) the authority that you walk in, the connection you have with God. Dan, feel free to Oh, this is for me. I'm also teaching a class which I think is going to be fabulous and you're going to want to come. You can find a list of these classes, including mine, at bthl.com/equip.

Guys, cut. If we put it on the monitor, Dan's going to read it. >> I can't help it. This is just another reminder that we have the church fast coming up January 4th through the 10th where we're coming together as a church to seek God, his face, and his heart.

We are believing that the harvest is upon us, and we're believing for salvations, for people to encounter the ((music playing)) power of eternal life and experience true transformation through the blood of Jesus. Jesus is inviting us to prioritize what he is prioritizing. So throughout the week, we'll come together for times of prayer, intercession, and worship in the mornings and in some of the evenings.

Go to bethl.com/fast to see the full schedule and ((music playing)) to join us. If you've missed any of these announcements, you can find them at bethl.com/church ((music playing)) news. again and we so love you and we just want the Lord's greatest blessing on you and your family during this holiday. He is a good God who gives ((music playing)) good gifts to his kids.

Have a great week. ((music playing)) Merry Christmas. ((music playing)) ((applause)) You're welcome. You're welcome. Why don't you go ahead and stand to your feet? We're going to do the offering. We're going to do offering reading number two. If I would have known I was doing this, I would have brought some of my gear.

Uh if you're joining us online, we believe that your tithe belongs to your local church. But if you want to give above and beyond that, this is a great place. So, let's declare this out. Uh as we receive today's offering, we are believing you for heaven open, earth invaded, storehouses unlocked, and miracles created, dreams and visions, angelic visitations, declarations, impartations and divine manifestations, anointings, giftings and calls, positions and promotions, provisions and resources to go to the nations, souls and more souls from every generation saved and set free carrying kingdom revelation.

Thank you, Father, that as I join my value system to yours, you will shower favor, blessings, and increase upon me so that I have more than enough to co-labor with heaven and see Jesus get his full reward. Hallelujah. Let's give Jesus a shout of praise and then let's welcome Bill Johnson as he comes up to share. >> ((applause)) >> Thank you.

Good morning. Good morning, Steve. Would you do me a favor? I forgot my water. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning. >> Merry Christmas. >> Merry Christmas. >> Merry Christmas. >> Thank you. >> Merry Christmas. The salesman at the furniture store told me, "This sofa will seat five people without any problem."

I said, "Where am I going to find five people without any problems?" [laughter] >> I've read I've read this one before. Um, but if it's I just think it's funny. I'm [clears throat] reading it for me, >> right? Imagine the manger. Christ is in the manger surrounded by animals and all the animals are inspired and are confessing what they're going to give to honor the king.

The camel says, "I will bear him gifts." The donkey says, "I will carry him." The fish says, "I will pay his taxes." The cow says, "I will quench his thirst." The dove says, "I will bless his baptism." The sheep says, "I will warm him." The duck says, "I will feed him."

The pig says, "I will let him fill me with demons and I'll jump off a cliff. [laughter] [laughter] I never get to finish it. So, let me finish it. I will let him fill me with demons and I'll jump off a cliff and and wait what [laughter] it helps if you have a third grade sense of humor.

So that's that's what I've got. All right. Um open your Bibles. It'll take me a little bit to get there, but open your Bibles to I've actually got two places I want to read from. We'll see how I do. uh 2 Kings 20 [snorts] and then um 2 Chronicles 32.

That's where we'll go. All right. For the last several weeks, I've had especially when I'm I'm thinking about stuff that I want to talk about to our students and and I've I've had this story of Hezekiah um on my mind a lot. And uh in reading in my reading um I've been reading about the kings for quite a while now [clears throat] just going through 1, 2 kings, 1 Samuel and Chronicles.

And just right now I'm just going through some of that part of the story again with this Hezekiah. He was 25 years old when he became king. He inherited the throne from his father Ahaz who was an extremely wicked king. He led Israel into idolatrous worship. He defiled the house of God.

He built Baales and other false gods, constructed them for I I say Israel, it was actually Judah. Judah and Israel were separate at this time. And he led the people of God into literally demonic worship. Led them as a nation into serving other gods. Hezekiah became king at the age of 25 and inherited, if you could imagine, not just a defiled religious system, but an entire culture that has now been crippled and poisoned, if you will, with this demonic worship.

So, it's not just their practices. Now, we know that it has to do with atmosphere. It has to do with the demonic world being given liberty by those who are in authority. So if you can imagine becoming king and you inherit you inherit something that has a momentum of many years that is so corrupt and so defiled and yet you become the king from your own dad.

You're inheriting this momentum and you stand in the middle of it and you say no, we're going to serve the Lord. It it honestly I'm not sure that any of us have enough understanding to appreciate the amount of courage that it took for this guy Hezekiah to stand up and decide we're going the other way.

But he didn't just make the decision we're going to serve the Lord. He went to extremes. He actually was was given a grace, a favor, a wisdom by God to reshape the culture of the people of God. It was more than it was more than uh uh we're going to sacrifice now at the temple.

It was more than that. It was the culture of the entire nation was shifted and changed. I doubt it happened on a weekend, but it happened over a period of time where the nation of Israel responded to godly leadership and became passionate lovers of God. When I read through the stories of the kings, they're some of my favorite stories because [clears throat] they're so crazy.

Some of them are just just weird. [snorts] But I I tend to prefer the weirder stories from the Bible because there are plenty to feed yourself on and plenty to create questions. But for example, one king one king did so good. It was like it says he did what was right in the sight of the Lord as his father David had done.

David was always the measurement for everybody else's success. So for several hundred years the success of a king or the failure of the king was measured against the standard that king David had established. And so it would say something like and he did what was right in the sight of the lord as his father David had done as long as and then it would mention the high priest as long as the high priest was alive.

What's crazy is you go through the story and then you see when that high priest dies, the king becomes weird. He becomes corrupt. And I don't I don't think it's hard to imagine, but I don't think, you know, he was had a passion for God one day and the next day he finds out the the high priest is dead.

I'm going to serve the devil. Now, I don't think it was that. It was that he lost the inspiration. >> Yeah. >> He lost the inspiration. I watch so many people do well in seasons of great visitation, seasons of great inspiration. the times when the prophetic word over their life is so fresh and so clean.

The time when you sense the Holy Spirit moving profoundly in a in a gathering or in a season and people do so well during those seasons. But when that season lifts or there's a season change, I I watch as so many people lose heart, lose lose what they just gained, lose what they poured out their life for in the previous season.

I watch many who move from one side of the planet here sacrifice everything because of the season of inspiration. The challenge is what do you do when the inspiration lifts? It's not punishment and it's not necessarily even caused by sin. What happened to Hezekiah? He was known for let's just go through his his history for a moment.

He was known as a king who prayed. is the stories in here of his answers to prayer are extraordinary. For example, it says in in one place it says um every work that he began to do in the service of the house of God in law and commandment to seek his God, he did it with all of his heart and so he prospered.

Say that with me. And so he prospered. The result of his radical courageous obedience. remember his he is obeying against the stream against the flow. He's is going upstream in his radical obedience. So this is a very very courageous thing. He's he's thinking in terms of multiple generations to come.

And so he is determined. I am going this way regardless of who goes with me. And that's Hezekiah. So it says the Lord sees that and so he prospers and everything he did he began to prosper. The very next phrase in chapter 32 says, "After these deeds of faithfulness," that's what God called Hezekiah's actions.

After these deeds of faithfulness, Sinekarb, king of Assyria, came and entered Judah. What I want you to see is it wasn't sin that brought an attack from an enemy. >> Yeah. >> It was what he was doing that was right. Yeah, >> many people are never attacked because they're not doing anything that disturbs the powers of darkness. >> If you don't walk, if you don't run into the devil now and then, you might be going the same direction.

[laughter] [clears throat] >> So, it wasn't the that sin entered that brought the opposition. It was the faithful deeds. >> Think about it. Jesus baptized in water. The Holy Spirit comes upon him as a dove remains on him in that presence and in that power. He's led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

So sometimes when the conflict comes in our life, it's an affirmation that we've done right. It's it's an affirm [laughter] it's I don't know how it's an it's an affirmation that you've done well. Now the point is now is not the moment to panic. The mo this is the point is now is not the moment to become introspective.

This is the moment where childlike we say what do we do now? What Hezekiah did is amazing because he was known for prayer, but he joined himself with the prophets. >> Isaiah was his friend. It's a good friend to have. Isaiah and him, they called a prayer meeting one day when this enemy nation who was much bigger and much more powerful in every natural way than were the people of Judah.

And this nation came in and taunted and mocked, did everything they could to demoralize the people of God. Hezekiah and Isaiah had a prayer meeting and it says they cried out to the Lord and the Lord sent, if I remember right, one angel, >> one big bad [laughter] angel.

There's this huge army and God says, "Ah, one angel's enough." So when Jesus says he could send thousands, just imagine what that would take care of. So he sends one angel into the situation and the angel wipes out the enemy army. Sakarb, the king of Assyria, goes back to his own country in shame. >> He enters the temple of his false god and his own kids go into the temple and kill him. >> Amen. >> Not a good day.

But he taunted the armies of the living God. And Isaiah and Hezekiah had a prayer meeting. And it's beautiful to see the kings and the prophets work together. >> Good. >> It's one of the most essential ingredients of this next season. And we see it in the story.

So Hezekiah had a value for the prophets. He had a value for prayer life. He had an absolute devotion to reformation. He's he's possibly at least for me my biggest hero as a reformer. I think what he inherited in a momentum of corruption that he was able to turn into a nation of passionate lovers of Jesus is extraordinary >> and he did it because of his courage because of his obedience.

Remember this verse it says um and so he prospered and called these faithful deeds. So because of these faithful deeds two things happen. One is the blessing of the Lord increased. Let me tell you something important. God disciplines us so his blessings don't kill us. Come on. >> He disciplines us so we can survive his blessings. >> Discipline is not punishment.

It's not the opportunity for the heavenly father to take out his anger and express it towards an individual. It's always to prune and reduce to a point of strength so that we can hold and contain and carry more. So whenever the Lord is dealing with you, it's why the Bible says that rejoice [clears throat] when various trials, difficulties come because it's actually the pruning that enables you to carry the greater weight of God's presence and glory.

There is no greater gift than the presence of God. >> There is no greater gift and every true measure of progress in our life is is blessed with greater measure of presence. And you will always have the measure of presence in your life that you're willing to jealously guard. >> Whatever measure you would take a bullet for, that's what you'll live with. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> This sense of presence and glory can be contained, maintained, sustained all throughout the week.

And that's the ambition is for us to be a people that hosts the presence because your shadow will always release whatever overshadows you. It's containing that presence, that adoration, that place of deep affection for the Holy Spirit. It's in that place that his environment changes our environment. >> So Hezekiah, back to the story, he's the reformer.

He's the prayer warrior. He's the uh the partner with prophets. He's all these things. But in the blessing, he started attracting favor from outside kingdoms and kings. So they started sending gifts and presents. I I don't know. I think I think it was the right thing to do.

I I think they were acknowledging they were recognizing something unheekiah that uh Israel had one time been known for with David and Solomon. They were giving allegiance. They were giving honor [gasps] and these gifts would come and and Hezekiah is starting to prosper and he's acquiring a lot of land and a lot of blessing in his life.

And yet something happened. Leaders from Babylon came and they came to visit him and they came to honor him with gifts and he did something unusual. When the Babylonian leaders came to him, he actually took them into his treasury and he showed them everything he had. That may not seem very significant, but but I want you to think about this.

Only a king who's insecure about his position is going to try to use his possessions and his accomplishments to increase favor. Yes. >> When the Lord points out insecurity in any one of us, he's doing us a favor >> cuz he's exposing wrong securities. >> Insecurity is wrong security exposed. >> So here is here is King Hezekiah who who who does something that Solomon did.

Solomon married all these women. Why? I mean, let's let's be honest. Enough is enough. [laughter] He's got like 900 I forget the numbers now. Concubines and all these wives. Why? Think through this. Why would a king marry the daughter of another king so there would be peace between the nations?

Wait, think with me. He tried to to obtain through fleshly partnerships what God had already given him by the spirit. >> He was already called the man of peace. David was the man of war. Solomon is the man of peace. And now he's trying to obtain what he already had through covenants, illegal, improper covenants.

And it brought about his own dawnfall. Adam did the same. If you partake of this fruit, you'll be like God. He already was. >> He already was. He was already made in the image of God. He tried to obtain through his own works what he already had by grace. >> Come on. >> And what gets us into trouble so often is we when we we don't know what we have, we act either out of ignorance or or stubbornness to try to fight for something that God's already put in our life.

He's already answered. He's already given to us. >> Yeah. >> So Hezekiah shows the Babylonian leaders everything. Isaiah comes to him. This is in 2 Kings uh 20 verse 15. Isaiah says to Hezekiah says, "What have they seen in your house?" Hezekiah answered, "They have seen all that is in my house.

There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them." Do you understand the point I'm trying to make of trying to obtain favor with an enemy nation by impressing them with what you have? >> None of us have ever done that, but he did it. All of us hate entitlement in other people.

[gasps] You know, that's just worthy of a drink. Actually, that's just that's that's just worthy of a drink. Couple weeks ago, I spilled a whole cup of espresso on my Bible, so it reads fast now. [laughter] I wish I could say that was the first time that happened. [laughter] I have espresso stains in the front part from another time.

So, oh well, at least I'm consistent. They've seen all that is in my house. I'm not There's nothing among my treasures. I've not shown them. Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the Lord. Bold days are coming when all that is in your house and what your fathers have accumulated until this day shall be carried to Babylon.

Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. And they will take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will begget, and they will be Unix in the place in the palace of the king of Babylon. Let's do it again. Whom you will begget. These sons of yours will be Unix in the palace of the king of Babylon.

And Hezekiah, this great reformer, this great visionary man who poured out his life for the generations to come. Listen to his response. He Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good. For he said, will there not be peace and truth at least in my days? >> [snorts] >> Did you guys hear what I just read?

How does a person fall from from the champion of courage, the champion of personal sacrifice, the willingness to go against the stream for the purpose of reforming an entire nation and impacting the surrounding nations? How does he go from that to a guy who is happy when a prophetic word is given where his own sons will be made unix and serve in another king's palace?

How do you get from there to here? I'm glad you asked. >> Tell us in 2 Chronicles. And I do want you to look at this one if you have got your Bibles. 2 Chronicles 32. We'll start with verse we'll [clears throat] start with verse 23. And many brought gifts to the Lord at Jerusalem and presents to Hezekiah, king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations thereafter.

Let me add a comment here. When the Lord does the exalting, it's good. >> It's always for a redemptive purpose. Don't don't don't foolishly put down either your own promotion or somebody else's when God's involved because it's always for a purpose. He says, "Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and he will exalt you in due time."

It is part of the purpose and the plan of God. But it always increased blessing is increased responsibility to live redemptively for the blessing of other people. >> And to miss the purpose of the promotion is to misuse favor. >> Anytime promotion comes into any of our lives, if it doesn't benefit the people around us, then we've misused the favor. >> Yeah. >> So true.

Come on. Merry Christmas. Does that [laughter] Does that help? You're giving me that look. All right. So many brought gifts to the Lord in Jerusalem, presents to Hezekiah, king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all the nations. In those days, verse 24, Hezekiah was sick and near death.

And he prayed to the Lord, and he spoke to him and gave him a sign. Now, this is expanded. This part of the story is expanded a bit more in second Kings, but this is what happened. Hezekiah is sick. The prophet Isaiah comes to him and he says, "Get your house in order.

This sickness is unto death. You're going to die." Now, that wasn't a curse. That was uh Yeah. It was an invitation of God to live the remainder of his days in wisdom. Wow. >> Hezekiah, as you read the story, he turns his face toward the wall and he says, "God, I've lived faithfully.

I've done this and that." And he cries out to the Lord in his affliction. He cries out. And the Lord speaks to Isaiah who hasn't even left the temple, the palace grounds yet. He's not even walking across the courtyard. And the Lord speaks to him and says, "Go back.

We got a different word." He turns around. He goes back and he tells him, "You're going to live and not die." And the Lord actually added 15 more years to his life. 15 years. But what happened here? It says, "In the days of Hezekiah, he was sick, near death.

He prayed to the Lord. He spoke to him and gave him a sign." Verse 25, "This is what happened. Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown to him, for his heart was lifted up. Therefore, wrath was looming over him and over Judah and over is uh over uh Jerusalem.

Look at the look at it again. God answered him, healed him, but I have the word but circled in my Bible. But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him. What is that? What is that telling us? is telling us something about the more you mature, the level of blessing that comes in your life is much deeper and much more profound.

Be ready to respond equal to the favor. >> What was sacrificial for me yesterday is a token gift today. What cost me everything yesterday I've become accustomed to >> and now I can give it out of routine. >> And what he's inviting us into is the tenderness of heart that stays fresh and stays current with every season. >> Do you remember the passage in Revelation 2 where he says uh the church at Ephesus, you've lost your first love.

Do the deed you did at first. Go back to how you used to approach me. [snorts] your childlike approach, the simplicity of devotion where everything was abandoned to me. Go back and do those things because you can reignite the passions that you once had for me. He didn't say um worship me until first love is restored.

He didn't say memorize 100 verses till the first things are first love is restored. He said do what you used to do. Those were living encounters that we had together because of your response to me. go back to those and I'll reignite that which I put in you in the first place.

And maintaining first love through seasons is is one of the greater challenges in life. This is really this is really a invitation if you will to never burn out. >> Yeah. >> So what happened here? He didn't he didn't repay. He didn't respond to the Lord as he had his entire life.

He had responded sacrificially and in this season he became the entitled one. He became lifted up in his own pride because of blessing and he didn't respond to God sacrificially anymore. I'm sure he still worshiped. I'm sure he still offered sacrifices. But now it's out of convenience. If you can imagine with me, this worshshiping king is now doing things out of routine, not relationship. >> He's doing things out of principle and not presence. there there's something that's taken place in his life where an entire value system shifted because of favor and blessings that changed his appetite from simply pleasing God to now accumulating the scary part of the story for me if that wasn't scary enough.

It says Hezekiah rested with his fathers. Then Manessa his son reigned in his place. 2 Kings 21. Manessa was 12 years old when he became king. He did evil in the sight of the Lord according to the abomination of the nations the Lord had cast out from before Israel.

He rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed. He raised up the altars for Baal. He made a wood wooden image as Ahab, king of Israel, had done. He worshiped the host of heaven and served them. He built altars in the house of the Lord. He defiled the house of the Lord.

Here's Manessa, a 12year-old. >> Wow. How many years did God add to Hezekiah's life? >> 15. >> 15. How old was Manessa when he became king? >> He was born in the season of religion and not ferveny and routine and not relationship. He is the offspring of form without power.

Merry Christmas. ((applause)) [laughter] I I look at stories like this. I I like them because they provoke me. I like I like when the Lord provokes. I like I like it. I like if if you don't feel that that sting of scripture, >> then you may be getting numb. I don't want to be numb.

I don't want to be numb. Friends, my Dick Mill said this sermon once. It's called walking through the sword. That that's a great title for a sermon. Walk. So I just picture this. Jesus is holding a sword and I'm standing and the tip of the sword is piercing my chest and he says, "Come here."

Yes. That's why the word just begins to cut and to prune and to trim. And honestly, it's the mercy of God to prune us so that we can survive his blessings. Yes. >> Yes. >> Amen. >> So, here's stories, a story of a great man that we will honor in heaven who experienced a crash towards the end of his life that was completely unnecessary. >> It's It may be hard.

There's a lot of things in life that are hard, but they're not complicated. Yeah, >> they're they're challenging, but they're not complicated. It's not they're not confusing. I have found that most of the time the will of God is not confusing at all. It's only confusing when I entertain other ideas.

Then I invite confusion into my life. Please come make a mess of my brain. [laughter] >> But his word is very clear. >> Yes. So good. >> All of these things are all they they all have to do with lordship. Who's Lord? It's not about what you accumulate. It's not about what you sacrifice.

It's not about any of these things. It's the lordship of Jesus. When Jesus is Lord, he can trust me with more. Whether it's insight, maybe it's favor, maybe it's open doors, maybe it's resource, but whatever it is, when he is Lord, the foundation is firm and strong. And that lordship is not maintained through striving.

I think it's just maintained by making sure that he remains my first love. >> Staying tender, >> never getting far away from tears. Always making sure that that I'm I'm not only ready to do what he says, I want to hear him speak so I know what to do.

Many people obey if God comes to them. The part of the story I don't remember if I emphasized here. So I'll I'll wrap it up with this is that before the Babylon Babylonian leaders came to see Hezekiah the king, the scripture says, "And the Lord removed his presence from him to see what was in his heart.

Wow. >> The Lord removed his presence. Now, we know the scripture says he will never leave or forsake us. So, he doesn't remove his presence from us. But does it make sense to you? He can shut down our capacity to recognize him in a given situation or season.

Do you understand that? That is never punishment. It's not an angry father slapping you across the head. It's it's the fact that the Lord is measuring you measuring me to see what weight of glory I can live under without it destroying me. >> He disciplines us so we can survive his blessings.

And so from Hezekiah, he backs up to see what was in his heart. And he found that he had a man that [clears throat] was able to have radical obedience when the inspiration was there. But there wasn't enough built into the structure of his inner world to maintain those values when the inspiration was gone.

I've I've watched I've watched it here in Reading. I've watched in what God's done here in the last 30 years. There are many that do incredibly well in the middle of the outpouring of great power. God uses them in miracles. All these things happen and they are they are on the front lines of everything and then they go through a season that's dry and they can't seem to tell up from down which is fine except when then you turn your heart to self-will, self-indulgence, self-promotion. >> All those counterfeits, >> all those things that shout I am Lord >> not Jesus.

And so Hezekiah faced himself because the Lord said, "I've got to find out what's in his heart when I'm not there to inspire him." What God is building in you and in me, I don't know how else to describe it, but it's internal structures. It's like there are values, there's a sense of purpose, there's destiny, all these things that get built in us where we live aware of why we're alive.

When those things are in place, God can entrust us with different kinds of weighty presence and responsibilities on the outside. Somebody said once, "If the light in you is weaker than the light on you, you'll crash and burn. You won't succeed." So, what the Lord is doing is he's building something significant here so that in the season where I can't discern him, I still live the same. >> So, good. is not dependent upon me feeling inspired. >> So next time you don't feel inspired, slap yourself.

Say, don't you be stupid. [laughter] And if you're not willing to do it, your neighbor will. I'm sure they will help you. Honestly, what the Lord has called us to is not greatness, is not high achievements. It's the simplicity of devotion to Christ. >> When things are red hot and fiery, and when things are cold, when I can't tell up from down, and when everything is being answered according to how I pray.

Both extremes. Paul said it this way. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I know how to abound and I know how to be abased. >> I know what to do when I'm in lack and I know what to do when I'm in abundance. I live the same. >> So that's my prayer.

My prayer for us this Christmas season is the absolute joyful delightful lordship of King Jesus would become so pronounced over everything we are everything we do in fact we just pray it might have been prayed earlier but feel like we're supposed to in fact you need to demand this as you pray prod needs to be proclaimed declared I just I see so many unusual blessings being released into people's lives And the more you lean in to what you anticipate coming from God, the more you'll recognize the answers because not all answers will come with neon lights.

Some will very be very subtle. But when you recognize the hand of the Lord is in this and it's for my encouragement, then suck it up, join, drink it up, do everything you can to benefit from that breakthrough. Let me ask a question. We're going to pray over everyone, but is is there anyone here?

You don't have a personal relationship with Jesus. You don't know what it is to be born again. That's where you invite the Holy Spirit into your life. You're forgiven of sin and God actually brings you, adopts you into his family. It's the most amazing miracle ever. If there's anybody in the room that say, "Bill, I don't want to leave the building until I know I have found peace with God."

If that's you, put a hand up real fast and just hold it there till I see you because I want to recognize I want to recognize the cry of every single heart in this room. Okay. All [clears throat] right. I assume we're all in. Those online, we welcome you. First of all, Bethl family online, we love you so much.

Um, write in the chat box if you are one that is wanting prayer to receive Christ. Let's have everybody stand. Everybody stand. Who's who's helping me? The one and only. Come on up here. Let me pray for you. And uh, you're amazing. All right. Let me pray for you and then uh uh we need to have a ministry team come on down here quickly and then we want to minister to as many people as we can.

But Father, let this be the season of first love. You need to ask for that. Put it on your lips. Put it on your lips. Pray it out loud. God, let this be the season >> where without question I know that you are my first love. Awaken that in every person.

I pray in Jesus name. Amen. >> Amen. ((applause)) Yes. Thank you, Bill. >> Will you do me a favor and just everybody on the count of three say, "Merry Christmas, Bill." 1 2 3. Merry Christmas, Bill. He's walking out going to shake hands and kiss babies. Um ministry team, if you would come forward uh and help us to serve the people this uh afternoon.

[gasps] And then I'd love to take this moment just to say merry Christmas to you. May the blessing of the Lord be upon your house and your family. And may your time at the table be full of good food, good conversation, and lots of laughter in Jesus' name. Bless you guys.

Ministry team, if you'd come to the center uh and raise your hand to let folks know you're ready to receive uh receive it. >> Such a good word from Bill. So powerful. Wow. >> Thank you, Jesus. Well, if you want to give your life to the Lord this morning, um, just go ahead and put it in the chat.

Allan, I see saying if you want that, Lord. Okay. Thank you, Jesus. Um, but if you want if you want to give your life to the Lord, just put I need Jesus in the chat. And we have a team that would love to pray with you and minister to you.

But right now, I'd also love to pray for you. And so if you've just said um ((music playing)) like given your life to the Lord or maybe you're rededicating your life to the Lord today, maybe you um followed him for a season and have walked away and he is his arms are open wide.

He is um he is welcoming you, welcoming you home that it's the best decision you could ever make to run into his arms today. And so Father, I thank you for anyone watching this or watching it back uh that is saying yes to you today. Holy Spirit, I pray that you would show up um to them right now.

That you would make your presence so manifest. That they would have a real tangible encounter with you, God. That you um would reveal to them how much you love them. That you love them so much that you died on the cross to take away their sin and their sickness and pay the price um for them to have eternal life with you.

And so God, I thank you that we get intimacy with you. Um the greatest divine exchange because of the price you paid. I bless them, God, to know you and walk with you all the days of their lives in Jesus' name. Um, and again, if you just prayed that prayer, go ahead. >> Nancy, we see you there. >> Nancy, we bless you.

Yeah. Anybody else? Um, if you if you met >> Nup, we see you there. >> Thank you, God. Yep. So, if you guys just go ahead and put it in the chat, we have a team that will connect with you and they put a link there, too, that you can um kind of connect and learn a little bit more of what does it look like to to follow Jesus. and we'd we'd love to walk that journey with you. >> Come on.

Such a powerful word from Bill and just such a good reminder for us to not become familiar with the Lord and just not to take uh for granted, you know, these moments and opportunities that we have to actually experience his presence. And you know, as Bill was sharing, I was thinking, you know, with Manessa and he was talking about how, you know, he was raised in the last 15 years where Hezekiah had become familiar.

At the end, if you didn't catch it, it says, "And when he died, he was buried in the garden of Usuza." And I was reminded, you know, Usuza was the person who touched the ark and was instantly killed when the ark was falling. And and so it's this place of that, you know, Usuza was the representation of uh familiarity without reverence.

And it's interesting that Manessa when he's died, he's he's buried in the garden of familiarity without reverence. And he was brought up in this time with Hezekiah's life where it was just emotion. It was familiarity. There was no actual presence attached to it. It was the end of his life, but it was this place of religion without form.

And how important it is for us to stay so close to grace, so uh close to his mercies, his grace. And often times we experience blessing. We experience provision. And we can chalk it up to, yeah, I'm amazing or I'm great or I deserve this. And it's such a powerful reminder that we actually need to understand that this is all by grace.

Anything that happens, it's by grace. Any any blessing that we experience, it's from him. It's not from us. And how important it is for not for us to not stay be familiar with these things. And so I just want to release grace over you right now. I just pray just um reconnection into the childlike wonder and I I just want to pray over you.

So go ahead and hold out your hands um to receive Jesus. And uh I see uh Acts saying, "I want to rededicate my life to Jesus." That's amazing. That's the best thing. But I just want to let you know uh we all need a savior. We we all come up short.

We all miss the mark. We all have moments where we need the Lord to come through in big ways. And so I just want to encourage you right now that his grace is enough. His love is enough. And so I want you to hold out your hands. I want to pray for you.

But Father, I thank you for reconnecting us with childlikeness. God, that uh that awe and wonder that first captivated our hearts with you, Father. I ask right now that you would restore that in this season. That there would be color infused into our life again over this holiday season.

And Father, I thank you for grace. I thank you for an outpouring of your presence and of your spirit. I thank you for fresh encounters being released over people right now. And God, anyone that is uh drawing near to you, I thank you for tangible encounters right now.

And God, I just thank you for refreshing of soul. And Father, I thank you for peace right now in Jesus name. Thank you, God. Thank you, God. >> Yes. Yeah. I would love um even even as you were sharing about not becoming familiar and the aura of the Lord.

I just thought it would be so cool to fill the chat with testimonies. >> Come on. >> Even from um this last year, we did have a testimony that came in this morning, too. So, if you have a testimony from this last year, please put it in the chat.

Like, what has God done in your life? Like maybe you had an encounter with him, maybe he healed you, maybe there was provision, maybe you gave your life to the Lord, maybe um you were set free from something or family restoration. But let's just kind of fill the chat with the good news and refresh ourselves in that awe and wonder.

Um Psalm 37 talks about feasting on the the goodness of God. And I'm like this is a way we can actually feast and on his goodness. But uh Desiree earlier said uh awesome healing from Gresham, Oregon. Last week I asked for healing from a rib injury and then in capt she said and I am completely healed.

Can we just praise Jesus for that? Thank you God. We thank you for what you've done. And again, if you've also received a testimony and received a testimony, received a breakthrough or healing this morning, go ahead and put in the chat too that maybe that it was today or in the last week or two, that would help us.

But, um, let's fill this chat with some testimonies, and we're going to read some of those out in just a second, too. >> Yeah. And Katherine, you were asking what is the verse, uh, where Manessa was buried. Bill didn't actually read it, uh, but it's in uh, 2 Kings 21:8.

And I kept on reading down a little bit, but it's Manessa rested with his ancestors and was buried in his palace garden, the garden of Usuza, which is the garden of familiarity without reverence. And uh you know, his son even followed in the same ways two years and then he was killed by his officials, but his son was buried in the same place as well.

And so uh it's just uh you know, often times these little things we can overpass those things or skip over, but the Lord actually has really deep profound uh meaning. And Deborah said, "God removed a mass from my liver." Come on, Jesus. >> Wow. Thank you. That's amazing.

Um, we have here K K Bainley. Yeah. >> Um, said, "Two giant prayer requests answered this year. Thank you, God, and thanks to Beth family for joining me in prayer all year. Bless you guys." Oh, that's so great to hear. Um, someone else said they were pulled from an emergency in another country.

Jerome, praise report. >> Oh, where's one? God healed me from PTSD. Come on. >> Come on. That's amazing. >> We're celebrating with you. Thank you, Father. >> Thank you, God. >> Come on. We see Johanna put, "He turned my business around and made abundance in levels." Come on.

That's amazing. >> Um >> was cleared of cancer. Come on. That's amazing. Thank you, Jesus. >> Her husband, we we bless you, God. That's amazing. Amazing. Amazing. Thank you, Jesus. Um we see some people getting free, too. Had fibromyalgia and multiple chemical dentist syndrome years ago. Was healed.

Come on. >> Thank you, God. >> That's awesome. Thank you, Jesus. >> Yes, Jesus. >> Yeah. Anyone else, just go ahead and put it in the chat and then begin to celebrate like if you if you need that breakthrough, too. Like the Revelation 19:10 says, "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

So, these testimonies are they don't they're not the testimony of the individual. They're the testimony of King Jesus. And he's with you. Uh he's alive in you. He wants to do the same thing through you. And so, the testimony is actually prophesying your breakthrough. So, read it as a prophecy.

Uh, Marcia put, "The Lord healed me." Uh, healed chronic hip pain. Uh, Sakara put, "Four years ago, Jesus healed a bone spurn for my foot. Planter fasciitis." Come on, Jesus. That's amazing. >> Um, somebody said this summer, uh, uh, Chris Christ, I'm not sure. >> Christie. >> Christie.

There you go. Testimony. This >> or Christian, actually. >> Christian. That makes sense. [laughter] Sorry. We There's numbers in there, you guys. We are we're probably pronouncing all your names wrong, so I apologize. But this summer, the Lord confronted me that I was living with my terms and conditions in my heart.

And since I have repented and received so much inner healing in him through from him through Soozo sessions, praise God. >> That's amazing. Way to go. >> Well, that's absolutely amazing. Uh we just want to remind you as we close that there are prayer rooms for you. So, there's going to be a link that comes in the description.

If you want more ministry, you're believing for a miracle, just need direction from the Lord, or you just need just someone to partner with you to believe for breakthrough, go ahead and click on that link. Also, if you rededicated your life to Christ or you gave your life to the Lord, we also have another link that says start here.

Would want to encourage you just to click on that and we have teams that want to be able to minister with you, partner with you, and help you get you connected of what's next, what are these next steps. And so, we are so glad that you guys have joined us.

And Ruth's going to read off another testimony right here. >> I actually believe it's about to prophesy to break through you guys are number of people are going to get but Leila said removed me from of 20 plus years of addiction and severe anxiety and when it uh when I read that it just kind of leapt out to me a little bit and so I actually feel like the Lord's saying he wants to do the same thing again.

I know somebody had earlier had asked for a prayer from um something with with drinking um and addiction in general. And so God, we thank you right now. Uh we say we bless what you did and we ask you to do it again God. Anyone struggling with addiction or anxiety, be healed, be set free in Jesus name. >> Come on.

Amazing. We love you guys. We hope you have a happy merry Christmas and an amazing new year. We love you so much and we will see you next week which I think is in the new year. I think next Sunday is New Year's. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Saturday's No, no, no.

We're not even close. What am I talking about? [laughter] >> I was like, "No, >> we're not even close. We got two weeks for Christmas or one week. >> Christmas is a Thursday. [laughter] >> It's Thursday. Okay. Right. We're we're getting close to Christmas. But >> sorry, when you have multiple kids, a dog, and a pregnant wife, everything's a little bit a little bit all over the place, right?

But we're so glad >> Christmas is coming >> that you guys are joining us. And we hope you have a happy new year. But right now, holiday. >> Bless you guys. We'll see you. Click on those links. Love you.