On Earth, Peace - Christmas at Journey Church - JJ Vasquez

What is up, Journey Church Online? Merry Christmas! As you can tell, we're so happy to be here. We're festive, yeah. We're feeling vibes. Because it is our last in-person service of the year. Exactly. And it's our Christmas slash candlelight service at that. So you picked a really great Sunday to join us, and we're so happy you're here. If I haven't had the privilege and the honor of meeting you yet, my name is Jaylene, and I get to serve here as an online director. And my name is Gianna. And I get to serve here as the director of Journey College and the online coordinator. And like Jaylene said, it is our candlelight service, which means you need to get a candle. Whether that is a match, a yank candle, a soy candle, a heat lamp, warmer, whatever it is. It's good. Use it. Because we are going to use it. Yeah. And we're just lighting candles at the end of service to just really one, honor the birth of Jesus Christ. That's right. Number one. And then two, because he is the light in our darkness. That's right. And so we light a candle to commemorate that, but also for those of us that maybe have lost a loved one, whether it be this year or past years, I know that I know that feeling well, or maybe you live away from your family and you just don't have family near you this Christmas season.

But we do this in remembrance to remind you that we're with you and that you're not alone, that the spirit of God is right there in your house. And so make sure you grab a candle so at the end, you can join us for that very special element of our Christmas service. Yeah. And Christmas is coming up super quick. Oh my gosh. I felt like I blinked and December was over. Do you have your gifts yet or no? Let's not talk about it. All right. Let us know in the comments. I haven't even built a gingerbread house. Like, if you're a late shopper, let me know. Amazon Prime is going to work overtime because of me. Prime doesn't. They save us every year. Every year. A hundred percent. But what is your favorite Christmas tradition? I think it's so hard because there's so many. I love celebrating one. I'm a very festive person. I'll celebrate anything, but out of all the traditions, my favorite is that every year for my family, we put on Christmas pajamas. We drive to Wawa. We get hot chocolate. That's cute. That's cute. And then we go and drive around looking at Christmas lights and it's just my favorite

thing in the rich people neighborhoods, of course, because, you know, they have the best lights. They be paying for the lights to get installed. Exactly. You know? Yes, exactly. What about you? I feel like my favorite thing is having my grandparents sleep over on Christmas Eve and then the morning, we have breakfast together. That's so sweet. And my grandpa wakes up like super early and makes like the crispiest bacon ever. I love that. And so it's just so nice. I feel like we get sometimes lost in the lights and the presents, even though all that is so great. Right. But I love Christmas because it's like the one time we get to slow down and be with family. Yeah. And keep the focus on the main thing. Yeah. What really matters. Yeah. Let us know down below what your Christmas traditions are. And speaking of Christmas, soon after that is New Year's. Oh my goodness. Are we New Year, new me people, resolution people? What are the vibes? Mentally, I want to say yes. Like absolutely. Like mentally, I'm there.

In my heart. Yes. Like God sees it, you know? But I'm really going to challenge myself in this new year to instill the habit of consistency. Last year at church at home, which will be during our New Year's Christmas service. So don't come to the building at Fern, East Orlando, or Kissimmee because we won't be here. It's going to be nothing but the Holy Spirit. Right. The Holy Ghost. Because we're all going to be home. So watch it with friends, family. But last year at church at home, pastor talked about don't have goals, have habits. Set one habit for the year. And so for this new year, it's consistency, girl. I love that. It's that 5 a.m. consistency. I love that. Yeah. I think that's really good. I'm kind of on the same wavelength. This year, I had a goal of walking every day. Amen. You did it. You did it. Just not the way you wanted to. I just walked to my bed, walked to the fridge, walked to my laptop. Up the stairs. It was church. Right.

But I want to actually have consistent, active movement. For 30 minutes. Outside. Okay. Or if it's at my house, not on my bed. Like literally just. On the treadmill. Right. On my mat. But I just want to move my body every day for 30 minutes. And in the heart of consistency, I really just want to be a woman of my word. I feel like I, when I said something, I did it. And then this last year, I've kind of just been like, I'll get to it. Kind of procrastinating. And so this year, I want to be a woman of my word. If I say something, I do it. I follow through with it. And I feel like for work, I'm good at that. But like with myself, with other people, I feel like I'm good at it, but I want to be a woman of my word to myself. You know what I mean? Yeah. Which I feel like is one of the most important. Yeah. And I feel like all of us struggle with that. We can all take that accountability that we do it for other people, we do it for our jobs because we have to. Right. But then when it comes to ourselves, it's like, eh, it's okay. And no guys, let's do this together.

Let's stay accountable. That's right. Let us know in the comments though, what is your new year habit that you are trying to install? Because we want to hear about it. We want to support you through it. That's right. And like Gianna mentioned, next week we have our special church at home service. We want to show all of our in-person campuses how online does it. So show up correct. Let's be the example. Let's be in the chats next week, but I also want to challenge you to go ahead and invite someone to your home. Maybe it's inviting your family, that one person that doesn't know Jesus. Maybe it's your friends. Maybe it's your neighbors. Hey, even invite your co-workers. I know you're like, I don't want to see you right now, I'm worried. But you know that one coworker that you love? Invite them over. They need Jesus, you know it, yes. Yeah, and really, let your home be the sanctuary. Let your home be the auditorium. Yeah, where people can just encounter God and just feel the love of Christ through the way of your hospitality. And so I just want to challenge you. Invite people over, take pictures, tag us on Instagram, and I want to see

all the watch parties that are going to be happening all over the world and all the community that's going to happen. What a way to end the year and start the year and do it together. So what I'm hearing is, is you're inviting me. Yeah, come over, I'll cook you breakfast. I'm expecting a hospitality, yeah, that's right, okay. Because you need Jesus. Anyway, no, we love each other. I love you, I love you. But we're going to get ready to transition into service. So just be expectant because God's going to meet you wherever you're watching from and we're so excited that you're here with us. Bye everyone. ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪

♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ Let it rise up like a river, overflowing with the Holy Spirit, let it pour out with no limit. Overflowing with the Holy Spirit, let it rise up like a river, overflowing with the Holy Spirit, let it pour out with no limit. Overflowing with the Holy Spirit. He fills the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love, and wonders of His love. And wonders, wonders, wonders of His love. He is the joy of the Lord. Please sing it out. Joy of the Lord. Joy of the Lord is my strength. It's more than a feeling. Joy of the Lord. Joy of the Lord is my strength. All my soul, all my soul, bless His name, all I need is an empty chair. All my soul, all my soul, bless His name, all I need is an empty chair. All my soul, all my soul, bless His name, all I need is an empty chair. The joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is my strength. The joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord. We give you all our praise, Jesus. Oh, we lift you up, we lift you up, Jesus. Come on, can we give it up for Jesus just one more time? Let's praise Him in this room, because He is good and He is mighty. And if He's been faithful to you this year, then you have something to praise Him for. God, we just lift you up, we lift you up, Father. We honor you today and we celebrate you today, Jesus. Because you've been so good, God.

Even when we don't deserve it, God, you've been so good to us. So we sing this out to you today, Jesus. Oh, yes. I could sing your name for all my life And still find more to love each time Jesus be the name ever on my list It's sweeter every time that I call on it There's just something about your name There's just something about your name There's just something about your name That makes me cry only There is no other name There is no other name There is no other name Jesus, you're worthy Come on, he's been a friend You have been the friend who never left And I won't forget your faithfulness ♪ Jesus be the name ever on my lips, oh yeah ♪ ♪ It's sweeter every time that I call on you ♪ ♪ Cause there's just something about your name ♪ ♪ Yeah there's just something about your name ♪ ♪ There's just something about your name ♪ ♪ That makes me cry only ♪ ♪ There's no other name ♪ ♪ There's no other name ♪ ♪ There's no other name, Jesus oh ♪ ♪ Cause there's just something about your name oh Jesus ♪ ♪ There's just something about your name ♪ ♪ Yeah there's just something about your name ♪

♪ Makes me cry holy, there's no other name I know ♪ ♪ There's no other name, there's no other name ♪ ♪ Jesus you're worthy, yes you are ♪ ♪ Oh you're worthy, you're worthy Father ♪ ♪ Hallelujah to the Holy One ♪ ♪ Lift you up, lift you up, lift you up ♪ ♪ Hallelujah to the Name of God ♪ ♪ Sing hallelujah to Him ♪ ♪ Holy Lord, holy Lord, holy Lord, holy Lord ♪ Come on, let's sing this, Jesus your name is light. ♪ Jesus your name is light ♪ ♪ Oh more than light, oh what a darkness can't hide ♪ ♪ The resurrection and the life, Jesus, Jesus your name ♪ ♪ You save, you make, you heal, you make, you make ♪ ♪ The storm, the sin, you never fail, you never will ♪ ♪ Jesus, Jesus, the bread of life, forgive for us ♪ ♪ The first to rise, the soon to come, Jesus, Jesus your name ♪ ♪ For all the world will praise, for all the world will praise ♪ ♪ Forever praise the name above all other names, Jesus ♪ ♪ Jesus be the name, Jesus be the name, Jesus be the name ♪ ♪ Jesus be the name, the gift of the glory, Jesus ♪ ♪ Jesus be the name, Jesus be the name, Jesus be the name ♪ ♪ The gift of the glory, Jesus be the name, Jesus be the name ♪ ♪ Jesus be the name, the gift of the glory, Jesus ♪ ♪ Jesus be the name, Jesus be the name, Jesus be the name ♪ ♪ Jesus be the name, the gift of the glory, Jesus be the name ♪ ♪ Jesus be the name above it all, Jesus be the name ♪ ♪ Against all the glory, oh Jesus be the name ♪ ♪ Jesus be the name in my heart, Jesus be the name ♪ ♪ Against all the glory, oh ♪

Amen. Amen. I love that song so much. Me too, especially the part where it says, Jesus be the name that gets all the glory. I think the reason why he gets all the glory in his name is because his name is the only thing that can truly restore is the only thing that can heal. It's the only word that can actually break chains and restore generational curses. And so that's why I love saying the name of Jesus at my time of need. Absolutely. In fact, we actually have a prayer request from one of you that we got from the app. And it says, I pray to be consistent with my walk with Christ. I pray that I don't ruin what God has for me by rushing. I pray for patience and a heart of gratitude in the waiting. And Online Church, if you would be so kind. And can you stretch your hand toward the screen so we can cover this prayer request together? Father God, we thank you so much for the power of your name. Thank you, Lord, that when we have no words, when we don't know what to say, we can say the name of Jesus, and that is more than enough for you to meet our needs, for you to come down and allow us to feel your presence right where we are. And that is what I pray over this person

who submitted this request. I pray, Lord, that you just overwhelm that person right now and that your presence is enough for them to keep waiting, for them to have the patience they seek, for them to be able, God, to take advantage of their waiting season and get to know you in ways they've never known you before. Lord, I pray that this season will begin to prepare fruit already, Lord, that they will see that they don't have to get what they're praying for for them to still get the deliverance they are seeking. We believe this in your holy name we pray, amen. Amen, amen. And if you would like encouragement in the waiting, it's a great way to do it on our Journeying Church app or by scanning that QR code so that we can hear your prayer request. We can also celebrate what God is doing in your life. And so if you feel led to, go ahead and download our Journeying Church app. That's right. Well, Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas, everyone. Journey Church, happy Sunday. We are so glad that you decided to spend your Sunday here with us. If I haven't had the pleasure and the honor of meeting you yet, my name is Jaylene,

and I get to serve here as the online director. And my name is Gianna. I get to serve here as the director of Journeying College and the online coordinator. We are so glad that you're here. Go ahead and put in the chat where it is that you're watching from. Literally so many people are coming from so many places. It's so amazing to see how the gospel is just spreading past our four walls of this church. Gianna, who else do we have joining us today? Spreading across all the correctional facilities in the nation is our Pando app church members. So welcome guys. Merry Christmas. We're so happy that you're here. That's right. We also have another special group of people, and that is our first time guests. If you are our first time guests, welcome. Listen, we are so glad that you decided to spend this Sunday with us, but we don't want it to be the last Sunday. I wanna get to know you a little bit more. So all I'm gonna ask you to do is scan the QR code below. It's gonna be a connect card where I'm gonna be able to call you, hear more about your story, but most importantly, help you find your place here with us. Another great way that you can find your place

is through Next Steps. Next Steps is a program that we have here where you can learn more about your gifts, about the skills that God has given you and how to use them for the kingdom. And what better way to start the new year than joining a team online? And so scan that QR code or go to journeyoral.com forward slash next steps. Listen, all I'm gonna ask you to do right now is put in the chat next week. Church at home. Because next week, like she said, we have our church at home service. This is the one service a year where every single campus, Fern Park, East Campus and Kissimmee are online only. And so we wanna make sure that you come out and that you join us. And I also wanna challenge you to invite some family, to invite some friends, invite that coworker that needs Jesus. Come on. To your house to come and watch service with us and with you. So that way we can just really have a spirit of hospitality. Yeah. And really show people the love of Jesus by how we serve them.

And so if you have a family member you've been praying for, invite them and put church at home. Like, oh, how'd this get here? Just put it on your TV. Invite them for breakfast and really just share the love of Jesus with us. And also we wanna show our in-person campuses how online does it. Come on. And how we serve the Lord. That the Holy Spirit has no limitations that you can experience God right in your home. So make sure you join us next week for our church at home service. Yeah. And talking about our online community and experiencing God right where you are. I wanna shout out Louisa and Louis. Yeah. They originally were living in New York and they started watching Journey Online for two years. They felt deeply connected to our pastors, to our staff. And so they made that decision to get baptized, to receive deliverance. But Louis wanted to go deeper into his faith. And so they got engaged. Then they got married. And they felt the Holy Spirit prompting them

to move to Orlando to be a part of Journey Church. It's amazing. And what an incredible testimony of the power of our online campus. And so we wanna honor you. We wanna thank you for your generosity. And we wanna encourage you to partner with us in generosity. If you feel led, you can scan that QR code or go to journeyoral.com forward slash give. Yeah. And listen, it's not too late to be generous by sharing this link with three people that you think will benefit from hearing an encouraging word. That's right. Like we mentioned in our pre-show experience, some people feel lonely today. Yeah. So this is just an extra way of showing them that you love them and that you're thinking of them. That's right. But we're gonna go ahead and get ready for a time of service. Make sure you prepare your space and get ready for what God has to say to you. Bye everyone. Great service. God bless each of you. God bless you. Merry Christmas, Journey Church. How you doing today? So glad that you're here.

If we haven't had the opportunity of meeting yet, my name is J.J., and alongside my wife, Liz, we have the honor and the privilege of serving Journey Church as its lead pastors. And if you didn't know that, there's a really good chance you're probably a first-time guest. And so if you are looking for a home church and you are in-state or even out-of-state, we have a great online family. We think you walked into your or turned on your home church, not only because you are in a room in a space surrounded by the presence of God, but you're also surrounded by some of the most amazing, honest, open, transparent people in all of Central Florida. Come on, Journey Church, prove me right. Put your hands together and help me welcome all of our first-time guests joining us today in this special Christmas service. Hey, keep it going for Journey Church Online. What's up, online family? Keep it going for Journey East Orlando meeting at University High School. Merry Christmas, East Orlando. And also keep it going for those who are currently incarcerated, watching in jails and prisons throughout the United States. We're so glad that you're with us through the PandaWAP. Well, listen, if you are a guest and you really love this service, you're like, oh, this is the best church I've ever, don't come back next Sunday. Because we're not going to be here. Next Sunday, we've got church at home. Yeah, which is going to be fun. If you love this service, you're going to love next week's service. And it is literally church in your PJs. So you can turn on YouTube, Facebook, all the places that you stream. We're probably there. And we can bless you and your family. We have a special program for the kids. They can log on separately. It's going to bless you and your family. And also, somebody say January 4th. Yeah, it's the very first Sunday of the new year, and it's when we kick off 21 days of prayer and fasting here at Journey Church, which might just be my favorite part of the year. We love to give God our first. And you heard me right. I said 21 days of prayer and fasting, which if you're new to church, you're like, 21 days?

That's a long time. Why would anyone fast for 21 days? Why would anyone pray for 21 days? And the answer is actually because of Christmas. Because we have found something since Christmas. Listen, those who call this church home, those who call Jesus their Lord and Savior, we found something in here that we could not find out there. Something called peace. Someone say peace. Now, you know, everywhere come Christmas time, you're going to see the word peace. Specifically, you're going to see on Christmas cards, peace on earth, peace on earth, peace on earth. All over the T-shirts and the picture frames, peace on earth. The lights, peace on earth. The coffee mugs, peace on earth. And it's a beautiful phrase and it's a beautiful statement, but the irony of saying peace on earth around Christmas time is that there's probably no other time of the year where there's more peace on our decorations than there is in our hearts. If we're being honest, I don't know about your Christmas, but my Christmases be crazy. We just got a lot going on in the Vasquez house. And you might too. First off, at Christmas, you're doing a lot. There's decorations, which we all love putting them up, and we all hate taking them down. I stare at them all month long thinking, God, who's going to do that? And the answer is me, me. I'm going to do that, okay? And then you get into baking, and you got to start baking stuff. People found out I bake, and I got to bake people stuff. And then there's parties, and now you got a bunch of parties you got to go to. And then there's family. Come on, somebody. The family that you love but you don't like. And if you're not laughing, it's because you invited them to church today, and they're sitting next to you, and you're like, oh, Pastor JJ, I love my family. Sure, you can take my bed.

Yeah. And then there's presents. You got to try and buy presents for people, and it's the same people every year. At some point, I've been married 17 years. I don't know where to get this woman. It's 17 years in. She asked me for something, but I'm not getting it. She wants a Peloton for Christmas. That's a trap. That's a trap. You never get your wife an exercise bike for Christmas. It's not going to happen. The other ironic part of peace on earth as Christians or at Christmas time is I looked in my Bible for the phrase peace on earth, and I could not find it but one place. Jesus said it, and it is not the verse you're thinking of. Luke 12, verse 51, Jesus said, do you think I came to bring peace on earth? Nope. In fact, Jesus kind of promised the opposite. Verse 33, John 16, I have told you these things so that in me you will have peace. Look at this. But in this world, you will have trouble. That's the only time you see peace on earth in the Bible. Now, I know you're thinking, I've seen that Christmas Charlie Brown special. I know peace on earth is somewhere in that verse somewhere. I heard it. Well, I think the verse you might be thinking of is Luke chapter 2, verse 10 through 12. But the angel said to them, do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a

Savior has been born to you, and He is the Messiah, the Lord. And this will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly hosts appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests. Now, you might be saying, Well, that's right there. That's where it says it. It says, Peace on earth. But it didn't say, Peace on earth, did it? It said, On earth, peace. And that's a completely different sentence. This is not semantics. I'm not playing word games with you. The order of words matter. If you walk into a department store, and it says, Buy one, get one, that's a deal. But if you walk into that same department store, and the sign says, You can get one, if you

buy one, that's a totally different message. That's not a deal. That's dumb. That's obvious. I know I get one. If I buy one, it said, On earth, peace, not peace on earth, because had it said, Peace on earth, then the expectation should be different. Had it said, Peace on earth, then when the star went up over the earth, stress levels should have come down, because it's not peace on earth. If it had said, Peace on earth, then when the baby came, war should have gone. If it had said, Peace on earth, then when Mary's cries of labor had ended, the cries of slave labor across the earth should have ended, too, but they didn't, because the promise and the declaration was not peace on earth. Oh, I hope you catch this. It was that on this earth, on this crazy, wild, violent,

worrisome, stressful earth, you can find peace. Oh, I've come to share with you the message that the angels shared with humanity thousands of years ago, and I hope you hear it today. It is not peace on earth. It's a better. It's on earth peace. On earth peace. Now, I know it feels like that's like opposites. Like, it shouldn't exist. If it's crazy, it's crazy. You can't have both, but I came back from a trip from New York recently around Christmas time. I wanted to take my boys to see the city, because I think it's beautiful during Christmas time. I grew up there, and I wanted to see some of the lights that I had seen, and I experienced something that is actually a great image of that. We had a great time. It actually, God bless us, it actually snowed while we were up there, which was pretty cool.

We loved everything about it. It was beautiful. Central Park was beautiful. The only thing we hated was 22 degrees Fahrenheit, because your boy is Florida all the way through now. I could not hang in 22-degree Florida, but luckily, Pastor Liz was ready. She had the bubble jacket ready to go. What you know about the bubble jacket? She had the bubble jacket ready to go. Come on. She had the scarf ready to go. That doubles as a face mask. She got the gloves ready to go. And I can't put them all the way on, because they're super tight, so I'm going to just, yeah. I have my gloves on. And I was chilling. I mean, everybody else was chilling. I was good. I wasn't cold at all. But some people did not get the

There were some people walking around Fifth Avenue in skirts. Other dudes walking around in short-sleeved T-shirts. And they're all... And I'm over here like... The weather outside is frightful, but these clothes are sure delightful. And it's a great picture of what I'm preaching today, because even though it was cold out there, because I had put on layers of clothing, I did not experience what everyone else was experiencing, because I was covered. I come to tell you today, you might live in a crazy, stressful world, but if you put on some faith, come on, if you put on some hope, if you put on some comfort, if you put on some of God's promises, if you put it on, then you don't have to experience what everyone else is experiencing. This is what the apostle meant when he said, Clothe yourself in Christ.

The only time I got cold in New York was whenever Pastor Liz wanted to take a picture, because then I had to take off the glove and then roll the thing, and then I got cold. And that's the only time you get cold as a Christian, when you take Christ off. And some of y'all be taking Christ off. Somebody cut you off in traffic on the way to church this morning, and you took Christ off. And you told them. But then the cold got in. And the hate got in. And the violence got in. And music, if you know anything about music, you know that there are chords and notes, and most music is broken down into two types of chords, major and minor. And I'm gonna give you an Sanjoy, can you play? Sanjoy's a great piano player. Can you play major chords for me? Play some major chords.

That's good, that's good. Now play some minor chords. It's sad. Major chords are happy. Minor chords are sad. Go ahead. Play Jingle Bells. Everybody. Psych. All right. That's good. All right. Cool. So if you notice, most Christmas songs are written in major chords. Because Christmas songs are happy songs. But there are only three that are written in minor chords. And one of the Christmas songs that is written in a minor chord is a song called O Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. And it is a song about this verse we read right here. Because it is both sad and happy. When the shepherds get the message, they're getting it at night. So it's dark at night, but the angels are bright. You're not getting it. They were feeling scared, but the message was comforting. Both exist at the right time. It's a sad melody, but it's got glad lyrics. Come on, I've come to tell you today, I don't know what you're feeling. You might be feeling scared. You might be feeling sad on Christmas. You might be feeling alone.

You might be feeling lost. My only job is to share the lyrics with you today and let you know that both can be true. You can be feeling afraid and have comfort in Christ. You can be feeling alone and have company in Jesus. You can be feeling broken and have restoration in God. Both can be true. You can have comfort and you can have joy. God rest ye merry, gentlemen, and nothing you dismay. Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day. To save us all from Satan's pow'r when we were gone astray. Oh, tidings of comfort and joy. Comfort and joy. Oh, tidings of comfort and joy. Oh, mountains fall with rain, goodness and rejoicing. Mountains fall with rain, goodness and rejoicing. God, our heavenly Father, our blessed angel came. And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same. How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name. Oh, tidings of comfort and joy. Comfort and joy. Oh, tidings of comfort and joy. Mountains fall with rain, goodness and rejoicing. Mountains fall with rain, goodness and rejoicing. Praises are you within this place. And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace. This holy tide of Christmas all other doth deface. Oh, tidings of comfort and joy. Comfort and joy. Oh, tidings of comfort and joy. And fear not, for we bring good news of great joy.

We bring good news of great joy. And fear not, for we bring good news of great joy. Hallelujah. Now if we're going to talk about peace, it helps to describe what is peace. And I think if we're going to ask that question, it really depends on who you're asking it to. Because I think people have different definitions on peace and where they are in life. We got a lot of kids in our service today. Come on, give it up for all the kids joining us in the auditorium. We're so glad that you made it. Kids, I hope you don't get offended, but if we were to ask your parents for their definition of peace, you know what they might say? They might say, when the kids are at school. My parents, I hope you don't get offended, because if you were to ask the kids their definition of peace, they might be like, when mom and dad are at work. You want to go on a date night? Yeah, go ahead, because every time you're here, I got a chore to do, something to clean up, a trash to throw out, I'm good. I think you ask somebody in their 40s and 50s, they might tell you, any morning I wake up without lower back pain is peace. I think you ask someone whose mother is suffering from Alzheimer's, their definition of peace, they say, any day she remembers who I am.

That would be peace. What happens if you ask God that question? Well, I don't think we have to wonder, because it's in the Bible. If you would ask God his definition of peace, well, the first time we ever see the name God and the word peace connected is in the book of Judges. In chapter 6, there's a war going on, and there's a man named Gideon who finds himself in the middle of that war. He's afraid for his life. He is literally doing his job underground, because he's afraid that if he does it above ground, the enemy will come and take everything that he worked hard for. So this man is fearful for his life, and God meets him underground and says these words. He says, God is with you, mighty warrior. And Gideon is looking at the Lord like, it sure don't look like it. It's crazy outside. It's worrisome outside. I'm free from my life. I've lost my uncle. I lost my brother. It's scary out here. But something about those words, the Lord is with you, shifted something inside of Gideon, so much so that in the next verses, Judges chapter 6, verse 24, and this is where we see God's definition of peace.

So Gideon built an altar to the Lord, and there called it, look at this, the Lord is peace. Now, if that is true, then that means that there are two radical redefinitions of the word peace, and the first being that peace is not the absence of war. It's the stillness in the midst of war. It would have been impossible. It wasn't like God waited for the war to be over to go. Now you have peace. He said, no, my son, you have peace now because I am with you. And if the Lord is peace, then the second radical redefinition of peace is this. Oh, I hope you catch this, Journey Church, that peace is not a feeling. It's a person. The Lord is peace. That means peace is a person. Jesus talks about this, distinguishing the difference between the peace he offers and the peace the world gives. I am leaving you with a gift, John chapter 14, peace of mind, peace of heart, and the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace that the world gives. Listen, let me tell you about the peace that the world gives. It comes in the shape of pills. It comes in the shape of meditation. It comes in the shape of ayahuasca.

It comes in the shape of mindfulness. It comes in the shape of sex, in the shape of a bottle, and all that peace is good, but let me tell you something about that peace. All that peace comes with a timer. Comes with a timer. It does not last, and you might say, well, those are bad things, Pastor J. I got good peace. I got good peace in my home. I got a house. I got a home. I got peace in that. Okay, well, we live in Florida, so you are one hurricane away from losing your peace. My peace was in my Christmas bonus I got this year. Well, that's great, but then you went and spent it on something you couldn't afford, and now you got payments, and payments don't give you peace. No, peace isn't a thing. It's a who. It's a person. And the kids in the audience today, you know that, because in the scary movie when the monster pops out at the end, and then you hold on to mom and dad. I know that makes you feel comforting, but if you think about it for a second,

what's mom going to do against Pennywise? What's dad got against Freddy Krueger? It doesn't make sense, but we hold on to mom and dad. I hope you get this. Listen, because there is peace in presents. There is peace in being loved and wrapped. It's the who, but you got to be careful which who, because I have learned this the older I have gotten that who's can be just as fragile as what's. You'll see this as you get older, if you're in your 20s, in your teenage years, if there's a kid, but the older you get, the smaller your Christmases become. Every year there's one less seat at the table. Siblings move away. Your kids go to college. Spouses, in-laws, they fall apart. Fathers and mothers, loved ones pass away. And if your peace was in the who, then when they passed, your peace passed too. But be encouraged, because there is one who. One who, who has been there for every one of your Christmases. He was there at the first Christmas. He was there at your first Christmas. He was there at your third Christmas, and he'll be there at your last Christmas. I'm talking about Jesus, the one who promised to never leave you,

nor abandon you, to be with you. which is why you can't have peace at all times. In Christmas culture, there's this word called Noel. I tried to do a word study on it because I didn't know what it meant. It's Latin, it's original, it's a French word, and in French it means Christmas, but it originally in French meant news, and in Latin, for some reason, it means birth, and then centuries later, in English, it meant to shout with joy, and today it's a name. You might be sitting next to a Noel right now, but when you put it all together, the definition of Noel is simply this. The child is born, and now all is well. It's kind of implied in the word. Say Noel real slow, Noel. Listen to me, now all is well. Dad's not here for Christmas, and that's really, really sad, and I'm so sorry you're going through that, but if your father is here, if Christ is here, listen to me, now all is well. Kids have moved away, the wife is gone, but if Jesus is here, I'm telling you, now all is well. I got payments due next month for rent, and I don't know how I'm gonna cover those payments, but if the provider is here, now all is well. I got test results coming back from the doctor next week. Well, that's next week, but now all is well

because Christ is here, because the healer is here, because the comforter is here. Noel, now all is well. Noel. Noel. ♪ Love incarnate, love divine ♪ ♪ Star and angels gave the sign ♪ ♪ Bow to babe on bended knee ♪ ♪ The savior of humanity ♪ ♪ Unto us a child is born ♪ ♪ He shall reign forevermore ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Come and see what God has done ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ The story of amazing love ♪ ♪ The light of the world given for us ♪ ♪ Noel ♪ ♪ Son of God and son of man ♪ ♪ There before the world began ♪ ♪ Born to suffer, born to save ♪ ♪ Born to raise us from the grave ♪ ♪ As the everlasting Lord ♪ ♪ He shall reign forevermore ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ Come and see what God has done ♪ ♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ The story of amazing love ♪ ♪ The light of the world given for us ♪ ♪ Noel ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪

♪ Noel, Noel ♪ ♪ No hell, no heaven till your God is kind ♪ ♪ No hell, no heaven till your God is kind ♪ ♪ The story of amazing love ♪ ♪ The light of the world given for us ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ So how can I find this piece that we're talking about, Pastor JJ? Well, it's actually in the scripture that we just read, and I wanna read it again, because there's a line at the end that really brings it all together. Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly hosts appeared with the angel praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest heaven. We read this part already, and on earth peace. But look at this, who gets it? To those on whom his favor rests. See, the way to experience God's peace is to experience his favor. Now, how do I experience his favor? Then if that's the secret, how do I experience God's favor, the favor of God? Well, first it helps to define what favor is, and favor, just so you know, is not short for favorite, because the Bible also teaches us that God does not have favorites. Let me be clear, God loves the person who has not missed one Sunday this year

just as much as he loves the person who this is their first Sunday of the year. He died for both, he loves both. There's no attendance sheet in heaven that determines his level of love for you. I come to church every week because I love God, but he loves me the same no matter what. I need you to know that. No, favor is literally translated into, are you ready? Unearnable, ooh. In other words, what he means is, how can you get God's favor? You can't, at least not in your own strength. Every year my family has a tradition where we set up a Christmas tree, like a lot of families, and then we put the star on at the end. But where my family's maybe a little different from yours is that in most families, the dad does that. Well, in our family, we kinda save that honor for the kids. And every year we have them put it up. I think I have a picture of last year where Justice was the one who got to put the star up on top of the tree. And I'm gonna keep this image here because it really preaches to me kind of what we've been talking about here because I remember his first Christmas, we had him do this, he looked up at the tree and he was half this tall as he was in this picture. And he's looking at the star, looking at the tree,

looking at the star, looking at the tree. I was like, put the star up. He's like, I can't. And there's a word we have in church, ready, that defines the gap between justice and the top of that tree, between what he can do and what God is asking us to do. And that word is sin. Sin is the gap between God's commandments and our ability. Because I don't know about you. So since I've been reading some of these verses and I'm like, yeah, I'm not tall enough. I'm not patient enough. I'm not pure enough. I'm not holy enough. I've given to temptation. I'm weak. I don't think I can do, God, what you're asking me to do. And we walk away from God and we walk away from church and walk away from Christ. And it almost seems mean that God would ask us to do things he knows that we can do, but it's only mean, oh, I hope you get this. If you understand, if you thought for a second that he was trying to ask you to do it on your own. Look at that picture. I wasn't asking him to do something that he could not do without my help. When I asked him, it was always with the intention that I would carry him on my shoulders to close the gap

that he could not close on his own strength. Listen to me, when Jesus carried the cross, do you remember? You can see it in the movies. You can see it in the shows. It's pretty accurate how he carried it. What part of his body did he carry that cross on? Come on, what part of his body? Because he wanted you to know that he would carry you. He wanted you to know that he could lift you. He wanted you to know that he could get you to places that you could not get on your own. Jesus can do with you something that you can't do on your own. Listen, if somebody would have asked me for the reason for Christmas in three words, the reason for Christmas in three words, it would not be ho, ho, ho. The reason for Christmas in three words would not be merry little Christmas. The reason for Christmas in three words would be we need Jesus. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. ♪ Joy to the world on a night like no other, Emmanuel ♪ ♪ God is with us, beggars and kings, let us come and adore him, rest in his peace, bow before him ♪ ♪ Sing, all you people, the Lord Almighty reigns, sing every creature of God from what he is made, for he is good, for he is good. ♪ He was born to conquer the grave, to light up the world, the reason for Christmas day.

♪♪ ♪ Sing, all you people, the Lord Almighty reigns, sing every creature of God from what he is made, for he is good, for he is good. ♪ He was born to conquer the grave, to light up the world, the reason for Christmas day. ♪ He was born to conquer the grave, to light up the world, the reason for Christmas day. ♪ Sing, all you people, the Lord Almighty reigns, sing every creature of God from what he is made, for he is good, for he is good. ♪ He was born to conquer the grave, to light up the world, the reason for Christmas day. ♪ Sing, all you people, the Lord Almighty reigns, sing every creature of God from what he is made, for he is good, for he is good. ♪ He was born to conquer the grave, to light up the world, the reason for Christmas day. ♪ Sing, all you people, the Lord Almighty reigns, sing every creature of God from what he is made, for he is good, for he is good. ♪ Sing, all you people, the Lord Almighty reigns, sing every creature of God from what he is made, for he is good. The hospitality, the sensitivity. The compassion, the hope, and the peace. But I got good news for you. Christmas isn't a day. It's an announcement. Because when Jesus came, He never left. Someone will be like, Well, I read my Bible. The Bible said He go up in a cloud, and isn't He seated at the right hand of God? Yeah, but before He went up, He looked at us, and He said, Don't worry. I'm leaving, but I'm not leaving you as orphans. I'm leaving you my spirit. And it is the spirit of Christ

that still covers the earth today. I've come to tell you, Christmas started 2,000 years ago, and it has been Christmas every day since that day. It has been an announcement that hope has come, life has come, peace has come. It's here, and it doesn't have to end. In other words, Christmas doesn't have to be one day. It could be day one. It could be the day your life gets flipped right-side up. It could be the beginning of a new chapter. Heck, it could be the beginning of a new book. Some of y'all are like, I need a book. I just got to close this one and start a new one, because the old one is not... This can be yours. And so, listen, I want to invite you to do something that I've invited people every Christmas and Easter, because that's

mostly when we get the most new people, and it's this. It's a simple challenge. It is... Maybe scratch that. It's an invitation. Ready? Give God one year of your life. I know you came here for one day, but give Him one year, and the people saying yes and amen and clapping are the people who were here last year, the people who took the challenge last year, took the invitation last year, who meet me in the lobby. I get it every week. You told me give God one year, and you know what they tell me? It didn't even take a year. Didn't even take a year. And when I mean give Him one year, I mean come every Sunday you can, get involved in small groups, join a team, start serving, begin tithing, really get plugged in, and I promise you what God does in your life will change it forever. Every...

About every... I close in this room online at East Orlando. Listen, if you are hearing my voice today, I want you to know Christmas never ends. It's a declaration. It's an announcement that a dark world has received its hope, and that hope is Jesus. If you're ready to give Jesus a chance, on the count of three, I want to invite you all over this room to raise your right hand high to the sky as a signal and a sign saying, Jesus, I need you. And remember, that's the reason for Christmas, that we could not do it without Him, and let Him put you on His shoulders and take you to heights you've never experienced before, get you past things you could not walk through before, let Him carry you like He carried that cross for your sins and mine. That's you. On the count of three, would you raise your right hand? The lights are coming up a little

bit in the room, because I want to know who I'm praying for today. Don't you be ashamed. Don't forget about that family member you brought with you. This is between you and the Lord. On the count of three, raise your right hand high all over this room and all over East. One, two, you need Jesus. Come on, one, two, three. Shoot your hand high. Shoot your hand high. Oh, I see hands going up there, hands in additional seating, hands on... I see kids raising their hands, parents raising their hands next to their... I see a man raising his hand in the back. Come on, praise the Lord. Whether you raise your hand or not, I want you to put your hand down. I want everybody to pray this prayer out loud. Someone say, Father God, today I give you my life, my pain, my

past, my hurt, and I receive your lordship, your hope, your love, your life, and your peace. Come on, I believe right now as I said that, I believe the peace of God is covering you right now. Come on, just receive that clothing of the peace of God. Let his promises clothe your mind and your heart and your soul. In Jesus' name, everyone say amen. Come on, put your hands together and help me welcome those who made a decision to follow Jesus today. If you made that decision and you're here at Fern Park, I want you to take your cell phone and tap the little white sticker in the seatback pocket in front. If you're watching online, you can click on the link. And if you're at East Orlando, you can scan the QR code that's on the screen, because we want a pastor to be able to walk alongside you.

Amen. We're getting to my favorite part of the service now, which is our candle lighting ceremony. Before we do that, can we give it up for all our creative, production, worship teams, all the hard work that they did in putting on this program? You're amazing. Hey, in a moment, we're gonna light some candles. And if you're asking why we do that, I just preached about it. Ready? Because this room is gonna be dark, but you're gonna have a Come on, somebody. That's powerful. I got something. I'm not feeling what everyone else is feeling. I got a light. So I'm gonna ask everyone to stand real quietly if you can. We're gonna give you a candle. We're gonna give your kids a If they're gonna have fire, just watch them. We don't own the building yet,

so it's important that you watch them. Merry Christmas. Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright. Round yon virgin, mother and child, holy infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace. Amen. Shepherds quake at the sight. Glory streams from heaven afar. Heav'nly hosts sing hallelujah. Christ the Savior is born. Christ the Savior is born. Oh, oh, oh. We've gone astray. Now we go to sleep. I love you, Lord. I worship you. Hope which was lost now stands renewed. I give my life to honor Him. The love of Christ, my Savior King. I love you, Lord. I worship you. Hope which was lost. ♪ Lost, now stands renewed ♪ ♪ I give my life to honor His name ♪ ♪ The love of Christ, the strength to carry on ♪ ♪ Savior, my King ♪ ♪ Silent night, holy night ♪ ♪ Son of God, love's pure light ♪ ♪ Radiant beams from Thy holy face ♪

♪ With the dawn of redeeming grace ♪ ♪ Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth ♪ ♪ Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth ♪ Let's join together. Amen. What an incredible message from Pastor JJ. We hope you enjoyed our very special Christmas at Journey candlelight service. Like Pastor JJ mentioned, if you decide to give your life to Jesus, we do not want you to walk this out alone. You just made the best choice of your life. I wanna be able to talk with you, hear what that moment was like, but most importantly, pray with you and send you some additional resources as you start your new relationship with Jesus. So make sure you scan that QR code below. And listen, what better way to start the year than discovering your purpose and your calling? And the best way to do that is through Next Steps. Scan the QR code below to take Next Steps anytime online for you to start your first steps towards using your gifting and callings to make Jesus known. And if you feel inspired and you wanna partner with us, do generosity so we can continue spreading the gospel past the four walls of this church, make sure you scan the QR code below to give. And remember, next week is our special church

at home service, so we won't be in the building, but we cannot wait to see you next week online. Make sure you invite your family and your friends to have watch parties at your home so we can start and end the year together. We love you guys. Thank you so much for joining us. And we hope you have a wonderful Sunday and a wonderful Christmas. Bye, everyone. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Bye!