{"id":888,"date":"2021-12-26T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-26T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mgc.ca\/YM\/?p=888"},"modified":"2022-07-13T17:15:18","modified_gmt":"2022-07-13T17:15:18","slug":"sermon20211226","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mgc.ca\/YM\/sermon20211226\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Victories \u2013 Keeping the Reason for Christmas Alive"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span hidden=\"\">Christmas Victories \u2013 Keeping the Reason for Christmas Alive<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sermonNotes2021\">\n<div class=\"sermonInfoTitle\">2021 Church Theme: One Heart, One Mission<br \/>Scripture: Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:18-25; Hebrews 11:1-12, 39-40 <br \/>Speaker: <em>Mr. Aaron Garcia<\/em><\/div>\n<div class=\"audio-container\"><audio controls=\"controls\"><source src=\"https:\/\/www.mgc.ca\/mp3\/English\/2021_1226_E.mp3\" type=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/><\/audio><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><u><strong>Isaiah 9:6<\/strong><\/u> (NIV)<\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NIV-17836\" class=\"text Isa-9-6\"><span class=\"text Matt-11-1\"><span id=\"en-NIV-23462\" class=\"text Matt-11-2\"><sup class=\"versenum\">6 <\/sup><\/span><\/span>For to us a child is born, <\/span><span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"text Isa-9-6\">to us a son is given, <\/span><\/span><span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"text Isa-9-6\">and the government\u00a0will be on his shoulders.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"text Isa-9-6\">And he will be called <\/span><span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"text Isa-9-6\">Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, E<\/span><\/span><span class=\"indent-1\"><span class=\"text Isa-9-6\">verlasting\u00a0Father,\u00a0Prince of Peace.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><strong>Matthew 1:18-25<\/strong><\/u> (NIV)<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"text Matt-1-18\"><sup class=\"versenum\">18\u00a0<\/sup>This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about<sup class=\"footnote\" style=\"font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; vertical-align: text-top; top: auto; display: inline;\" data-fn=\"#fen-NIV-23163d\" data-link=\"[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-NIV-23163d&quot; title=&quot;See footnote d&quot;&gt;d&lt;\/a&gt;]\">[<a title=\"See footnote d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew+1&amp;version=NIV#fen-NIV-23163d\">d<\/a>]<\/sup>: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.<\/span>\u00a0<span id=\"en-NIV-23164\" class=\"text Matt-1-19\"><sup class=\"versenum\">19\u00a0<\/sup>Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet<sup class=\"footnote\" style=\"font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; vertical-align: text-top; top: auto; display: inline;\" data-fn=\"#fen-NIV-23164e\" data-link=\"[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-NIV-23164e&quot; title=&quot;See footnote e&quot;&gt;e&lt;\/a&gt;]\">[<a title=\"See footnote e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew+1&amp;version=NIV#fen-NIV-23164e\">e<\/a>]<\/sup>\u00a0did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce\u00a0her quietly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NIV-23165\" class=\"text Matt-1-20\"><sup class=\"versenum\">20\u00a0<\/sup>But after he had considered this, an angel\u00a0of the Lord appeared to him in a dream\u00a0and said, \u201cJoseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.<\/span>\u00a0<span id=\"en-NIV-23166\" class=\"text Matt-1-21\"><sup class=\"versenum\">21\u00a0<\/sup>She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,<sup class=\"footnote\" style=\"font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; vertical-align: text-top; top: auto; display: inline;\" data-fn=\"#fen-NIV-23166f\" data-link=\"[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-NIV-23166f&quot; title=&quot;See footnote f&quot;&gt;f&lt;\/a&gt;]\">[<a title=\"See footnote f\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew+1&amp;version=NIV#fen-NIV-23166f\">f<\/a>]<\/sup>\u00a0because he will save his people from their sins.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NIV-23167\" class=\"text Matt-1-22\"><sup class=\"versenum\">22\u00a0<\/sup>All this took place to fulfill\u00a0what the Lord had said through the prophet:<\/span>\u00a0<span id=\"en-NIV-23168\" class=\"text Matt-1-23\"><sup class=\"versenum\">23\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cThe virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel\u201d<sup class=\"footnote\" style=\"font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; vertical-align: text-top; top: auto; display: inline;\" data-fn=\"#fen-NIV-23168g\" data-link=\"[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-NIV-23168g&quot; title=&quot;See footnote g&quot;&gt;g&lt;\/a&gt;]\">[<a title=\"See footnote g\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Matthew+1&amp;version=NIV#fen-NIV-23168g\">g<\/a>]<\/sup>\u00a0(which means \u201cGod with us\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NIV-23169\" class=\"text Matt-1-24\"><sup class=\"versenum\">24\u00a0<\/sup>When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel\u00a0of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.<\/span>\u00a0<span id=\"en-NIV-23170\" class=\"text Matt-1-25\"><sup class=\"versenum\">25\u00a0<\/sup>But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><strong>Hebrews 11:1-12, 39-40<\/strong><\/u> (NIV)<\/p>\n<p class=\"chapter-2\"><span class=\"text Heb-11-1\"><span id=\"en-NIV-30176\" class=\"text Heb-11-3\"><sup class=\"versenum\">1<\/sup><\/span>Now faith is confidence in what we hope for\u00a0and assurance about what we do not see.<\/span>\u00a0<span id=\"en-NIV-30175\" class=\"text Heb-11-2\"><sup class=\"versenum\">2\u00a0<\/sup>This is what the ancients were commended for.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NIV-30176\" class=\"text Heb-11-3\"><sup class=\"versenum\">3\u00a0<\/sup>By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God\u2019s command,\u00a0so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NIV-30177\" class=\"text Heb-11-4\"><sup class=\"versenum\">4\u00a0<\/sup>By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended\u00a0as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.\u00a0And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NIV-30178\" class=\"text Heb-11-5\"><sup class=\"versenum\">5\u00a0<\/sup>By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: \u201cHe could not be found, because God had taken him away.\u201d<sup class=\"footnote\" style=\"font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; vertical-align: text-top; top: auto; display: inline;\" data-fn=\"#fen-NIV-30178a\" data-link=\"[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-NIV-30178a&quot; title=&quot;See footnote a&quot;&gt;a&lt;\/a&gt;]\">[<a title=\"See footnote a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Hebrews+11&amp;version=NIV#fen-NIV-30178a\">a<\/a>]<\/sup>\u00a0For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.<\/span>\u00a0<span id=\"en-NIV-30179\" class=\"text Heb-11-6\"><sup class=\"versenum\">6\u00a0<\/sup>And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him\u00a0must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NIV-30180\" class=\"text Heb-11-7\"><sup class=\"versenum\">7\u00a0<\/sup>By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen,\u00a0in holy fear built an ark\u00a0to save his family.\u00a0By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NIV-30181\" class=\"text Heb-11-8\"><sup class=\"versenum\">8\u00a0<\/sup>By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,\u00a0obeyed and went,\u00a0even though he did not know where he was going.<\/span>\u00a0<span id=\"en-NIV-30182\" class=\"text Heb-11-9\"><sup class=\"versenum\">9\u00a0<\/sup>By faith he made his home in the promised land\u00a0like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents,\u00a0as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.<\/span>\u00a0<span id=\"en-NIV-30183\" class=\"text Heb-11-10\"><sup class=\"versenum\">10\u00a0<\/sup>For he was looking forward to the city\u00a0with foundations,\u00a0whose architect and builder is God.<\/span>\u00a0<span id=\"en-NIV-30184\" class=\"text Heb-11-11\"><sup class=\"versenum\">11\u00a0<\/sup>And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age,\u00a0was enabled to bear children\u00a0because she<sup class=\"footnote\" style=\"font-size: 0.625em; line-height: normal; position: relative; vertical-align: text-top; top: auto; display: inline;\" data-fn=\"#fen-NIV-30184b\" data-link=\"[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-NIV-30184b&quot; title=&quot;See footnote b&quot;&gt;b&lt;\/a&gt;]\">[<a title=\"See footnote b\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Hebrews+11&amp;version=NIV#fen-NIV-30184b\">b<\/a>]<\/sup>\u00a0considered him faithful\u00a0who had made the promise.<\/span>\u00a0<span id=\"en-NIV-30185\" class=\"text Heb-11-12\"><sup class=\"versenum\">12\u00a0<\/sup>And so from this one man, and he as good as dead,\u00a0came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"en-NIV-30212\" class=\"text Heb-11-39\"><sup class=\"versenum\">39\u00a0<\/sup>These were all commended\u00a0for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,<\/span>\u00a0<span id=\"en-NIV-30213\" class=\"text Heb-11-40\"><sup class=\"versenum\">40\u00a0<\/sup>since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us\u00a0would they be made perfect.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Christmas Victories \u2013 Keeping the Reason for Christmas Alive 2021 Church Theme: One Heart, One MissionScripture: Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:18-25; Hebrews 11:1-12, 39-40 Speaker: Mr. Aaron Garcia Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government\u00a0will be on his shoulders.And he will be called &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mgc.ca\/YM\/sermon20211226\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Christmas Victories \u2013 Keeping the Reason for Christmas Alive&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2021-sermon","category-mr-aaron-garcia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mgc.ca\/YM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/888","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mgc.ca\/YM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mgc.ca\/YM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mgc.ca\/YM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mgc.ca\/YM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=888"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.mgc.ca\/YM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/888\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1115,"href":"https:\/\/www.mgc.ca\/YM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/888\/revisions\/1115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mgc.ca\/YM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=888"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mgc.ca\/YM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=888"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mgc.ca\/YM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=888"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}