Christmas at The Refuge 2025

Good afternoon. Hey, I want to invite you to just take a journey with me for a few moments to a very cold Christmas eve morning in 1818. It was a local vicar by the name of Joseph Moore who was walking to go visit his friend. His friend was a musician. His name was Franz Gruber.

And the vicar held in his hand a poem that he had written two years earlier. He was hoping that his friend could set the poem to music, because Joseph Moore was in great need of a song for the midnight mass that was coming up in just a few hours. So he trudged his way through the mountainous village of Oberndorf there in Austria, and he arrived at his friend's house and he told him the dilemma. And his friend took out his guitar. And over the next couple of hours, he composed music to the poem that Joseph Moore had written.

Later that evening at St Nicholas Church, at the midnight mass, the two of them would perform that new song together. And the world would hear for the first time ever, what they just sang. Silent Night. I want to call your attention for a moment to that third verse that they just sung. It says, silent Night Holy night Son of God loves pure light Radiant beams from thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus, Lord at thy birth Jesus, Lord at thy birth we recognize that for most people, this season of Christmas is a joyous, fun, wonderful time of celebration.

But I also recognize this afternoon that for some of you, the dense fog of grief makes it difficult for you to see radiant beams of light, that the heaviness of grief has a way of silencing the voice of hope.

If that's the case for you, maybe this year you're struggling because you lost someone this past year that's precious to you. Maybe you lost someone over the last couple of years. And every time Christmas rolls around, it's a reminder of someone who's not going to be with you. If that's the case for you, I want to invite you right now to bring that candle that you were given and make your way right here to the front is. We're going to take a moment and we're going to light candles as a reminder to all of us that radiant beams stream from the face of Jesus and that his light can light up the darkest of seasons.

So if you're here and you're struggling, come on and make your way right here to the front. Bring that candle with you and go ahead along with your family members and light that candle. And just stay here, if you will. Go ahead and light your candle there and then just stay right here at the front, because I want to pray over you this afternoon. And we're going to pray and believe that God's going to meet you at your point of greatest need.

The Lord's going to meet you in your grief. God's going to redeem what the enemy intends to be destructive in your life. The Lord's going to redeem that today.

I know this about our Savior, Jesus.

After his friend Lazarus died, many people were weeping.

And the Bible records for us that as Jesus came to the tomb of his friend, knowing that he was about to raise him from the dead, the Bible says Jesus wept. Why would he do that? He knew what he was about to do. I believe Jesus wept because he wanted the people there and he wanted you and I to know that he feels what we feel, that he understands grief. He understands sorrow.

And the beautiful thing about it is that he sees you right now. He sees what you feel. He feels what you feel. He sees the season that you're in. He knows what a struggle it is for you in the midst of what should be joyful, what a struggle it is for you to see those radiant beams of light or to hear the voice of hope.

And that candle that you hold reminds you that he can light up your darkness. I want to pray over you this afternoon and church. I want you to join me as we pray for these. The Bible tells us weep with those who weep, so let's pray for them right now. Father, I'm so grateful that you are a God who can relate and understand and feel what we feel.

And you see each one of these who are struggling, and the dense fog of grief has come in and made it difficult for them to see the light of your presence. And, Lord, I thank you that you always meet us at our point of greatest need. And you understand and you know. And you see what they're walking through this afternoon, Lord, as they think about a loved one who normally would be unwrapping presents with the rest of the family that's not going to do that this year. As they think about the one who's normally at the table eating a meal with the family and with everybody that's not going to be there this year, the one who had their own way of bringing joy into the season, who's not going to be doing that anymore.

I just pray, God, that what the enemy intends for destruction, that you would turn that into a moment of hope. I pray that you would wrap your arms around each one of these this afternoon and let them tangibly feel you and your presence with them and to know that you are close. You bind up the broken hearts. You weep with us. And, Lord, you can bring comfort.

You can be, as Isaiah prophesied, the wonderful counselor and the prince of peace. And I ask you to give to each one of these right now a peace that passes all understanding. And I pray even in the midst of their grief, you would give them joy right now. Holy Spirit, come give them joy. Minister.

Minister to each one. Though there be weeping in the night, Lord, you said joy would come in the morning, so let joy come. To each one of these, I pray. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Amen. Listen, here's what I want to encourage you to do. As you make your way back to your seat, I want you to just light somebody else's candle as a way of saying, by faith, the enemy is not gonna shroud me in darkness. He's not gonna put out my light. No, by faith, I'm gonna share hope with somebody else.

And as they make their way back to their seats and light your candle, I want you to turn and light someone Else's candle as well. Will you do that? Will you just go share hope with somebody? Just as a reminder. Jesus lights up the darkest season.

Tis so sweet to trust you.

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus and to take take him at his word. Just to rest upon his promise and to know the saith the Lord Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him How I've proved him.

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus. O for grace to trust him more. O for grace to trust him.

And I've never seen the righteous forsaken no, I've never seen the righteous forsaken. So I recall his faithfulness tonight because he's come through every single time.

No, I've never seen the right righteous forsaken. No, I've never seen the righteous forsaken so I recall his faithfulness to mine because he's come through every single time.

So on Jesus, I will fix my eyes.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful flame.

And the things of earth will grow strangely Tim. In the light of his glory and grace. We join me. Let's sing that again.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face and the things I this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.

In the light of his glory and grace.

You can now extinguish your candles.

Thank you, Jesus. Come on. How many of you are so thankful that we can turn our eyes on him at any situation, any time in our lives? So beautiful. So beautiful.

So glad you came out this afternoon. I want to just share a couple of thoughts with you before we leave. Some people will spend their entire lives searching for lost treasure. One of the greatest discoveries ever made came in 2015 when a treasure hunter found what was known as the Holy Grail of lost treasure. It was a Spanish warship called the San Jose.

And the treasure that was contained in that warship that was found in 2015 was valued at $20 billion. There was a guy by the name of Mel Fisher. He was known as the world's greatest treasure hunter. He spent 16 years searching for a ship called the Nuestra Senor.

It cost him a lot. He had many setbacks, many frustrations. In fact, he lost his son and daughter in law in the 16 years of trying to find the remains of that ship. And finally, in 1985, he found that ship. And buried with that ship were $450 million worth of gold and silver and emeralds.

I had one of the most memorable Christmases of my life. When I was 10 years old. My older brother and I, we wanted so bad that year to get minibikes. Some of you don't even know what a minibike is, Let me tell you. A Briggs and Stratton lawnmower engine, three horsepower metal tubing.

And we were repeatedly told over and over it wasn't going to happen. Couldn't happen, couldn't afford it. Weren't going to get mini bikes. Just wasn't going to happen. That year.

We're opening gifts. We both open a present. Inside of the present there's a note. There's a note from my dad and it had clues and he said, to find your gift, you've got to go here. And so we went to a closet and opened the closet and there was another note.

Add more clues. And my dad led us on this scavenger hunt all over the house. One time we had to go outside, put on shoes, go outside, go to the storage room, there's another note. Went back to a closet. We just kept doing this over and over.

And finally we go to the laundry room. We open the laundry room door and there sits two green mini bikes. As a matter of fact, I've got a picture of from that morning, that Christmas morning. That's me in the plaid housecoat.

And I just want to call your attention to the fact I have on my Sunday dress shoes for some reason, if you can see there. I think it was just the first pair of shoes I could grab when we went out to the storage room. That was incredible. We will never forget that. We had so much fun on the those mini bikes.

But it was like this crazy scavenger hunt, treasure hunt that we went on. Listen. At the time that Jesus was born, the world was in dire need. There had been 400 years of silence, no prophecies given. From the time of Malachi till the time of John the Baptist, the Jews were under the oppression and the rule of Rome.

Times were dark, many people had lost hope. And as you know, there was a couple by the name of Mary and Joseph who were making a 70 mile journey from Nazareth to a town called Bethlehem, even though she was late term pregnancy. And the reason they had to make that journey was because there was a census that was being taken and everybody had to return to their original hometown. Joseph was of the lineage of David, David was from Bethlehem. So they had to make that 70 mile, three day journey from Nazareth down to Bethlehem.

Many of you know that in the surrounding part of of Bethlehem, in the fields, there were shepherds that had a visitation of an angel when Jesus was born. Here's the cool thing. God did not conceal his location from people. God made it very clear where people could find him. And there's these shepherds.

Now listen, let me tell you. Shepherds ranked very, very low on the list of desired occupations. Nobody really aspired to be shepherd. But these were not just normal shepherds. They were what is known as Levitical shepherds.

Their job was to raise the sheep that would be used in the sacrifice in the temple. And the only place in all of Israel that these sheep were raised were right there on the outskirts of Bethlehem. What would happen is that when a shepherd saw that there was a ewe that was about to give birth, he would take that ewe in his arms and he would go into one of the caves surrounding the field. And there inside of that cave, that you would give birth to a sheep. And as soon as that, you did, the shepherd would take that newborn lamb, wrap that lamb in swaddling cloths, because the lamb that was used for the sacrifice had to be without spot or blemish.

Oh, by the way, Bethlehem means house of grace, bread. How fitting that the bread of life would be born in a place that meant house of bread. Well, you guys know when Mary and Joseph arrive, probably late afternoon, early evening, there's no place for them to stay. No Airbnb's, no VRBOs, no rooms over a garage to room, no hotel rooms, nothing. The only thing available was a cave, Likely one of those same caves that the shepherds would take a ewe into for the lamb to be born.

And there by design, wasn't an accident that God hand picked a cave for the lamb of God to be born in, much like the lambs that were used in the temple sacrifice. But things would be different now because Jesus, when he was born, would be the final sacrifice for all of mankind. And the Bible says he was wrapped in swaddling cloths. Why? Because he was a pure, spotless lamb.

And the only reason he came, the reason God sent him by design, was to give himself for you and I to be sacrificed so that we could be forgiven, so that we could be washed. And that God made it crystal clear to those shepherds where they could find the Messiah. He led them right to the spot, right to that cave, so that they could see with their own eyes the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Same thing happened to some wise men in Matthew chapter 2. God made it clear to them where they could find the Messiah.

Beginning in reading, in verse one, it says this. Jesus was born at Bethlehem in Judea during the reign of King Herod. About that time, some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, where's the newborn king of the Jews? We saw a star as it rose, and we have come to worship him. King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everybody in Jerusalem.

He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, where's the Messiah supposed to be born? In Bethlehem, in Judea, they said. But this is what the prophet and you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you, who will be the shepherd for my people Israel. And then Herod called for a private meeting with the wife. Wise men.

And he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. And then he told them, go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child, and when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go worship him too. We know that's not the reason he wanted to go. He wanted to kill this threat to his kingdom. After this interview, the wise men went their way, and the star that they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem.

It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. God made it very clear. And when they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house, saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. And then they opened their treasure chest and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Listen again. Some people spend their entire lives looking for the treasure of peace or of joy, or of identity or of purpose or of hope or forgiveness or satisfaction. And for many people, their quest for those treasures will lead them into toxic relationships, will lead them into addictions, will lead them to the pursuit of money or fame or clicks or likes or a D1 scholarship or job titles or some religious quest. Many people think that finding the treasure of those things that I named is complicated, that it involves some hidden clues or some hunt. And most people end up frustrated or disappointed because the very thing they thought would bring them the satisfaction or the peace or the joy or the purpose that they're looking for actually leaves them so disappointed that it complicates the issue.

And they search even harder in the wrong places, in the wrong ways. Let me tell you something. God did not make it complicated. God doesn't dangle some false goal in front of us or move the target constantly so that we end up frustrated all the time. No, God makes it clear, just like he did to the shepherds, just like he did to the wise men.

He makes it clear to you and I how to find those things of love and forgiveness and peace and hope and purpose and joy. He makes it very clear to us. And the path leads us to one place and to one person purpose. And his name is Jesus. That's it.

Everything that we need is found right there in the man. Jesus. It's not some scavenger hunt. It's not some game that God plays with us. It's not some endless pursuit of something that you'll never achieve.

And regardless of where you're this afternoon, maybe you're in a really solid relationship with Jesus.

Maybe you were at one point, but you're not today. Or maybe you've never been. Maybe you've never really had relationship with him. The enemy wants you to think that it's really complicated, but it's not.

I want to remind you of the words that Jesus himself said in Matthew, chapter 7, verse 7 and 8 when he said this. Keep on asking and you'll receive. Keep on seeking and you'll find. Keep on knocking and the door will be open to you. And by the way, Jesus said of himself, I'm the the door.

And then he says this in verse eight for everyone. Everyone.

Everyone. No matter how much you've sinned, no matter how addicted, no matter how corrupt, no matter how immoral, no matter how selfish or prideful, everyone who asks receives. Everyone who seeks finds everyone who knocks. The door will be opened.

God may have brought you here this afternoon. God may had you log on this afternoon for this one reason where maybe you've been on these frustrating pursuits to find treasure.

And maybe God brought you here to remind you. You. It's really simple. It's found in Jesus. I'm just going to ask you to bow your heads and close your eyes for a moment.

And Lord, I just thank you that you do make things simple for us where the enemy wants to complicate things and make us think we have to go on some scavenger hunt to find true treasure. It really starts and ends with you. You. It's all found in you. Lord, I pray for every person who's here and every person who's watching online.

I pray for those who are in a meaningful, deep, solid relationship with you. I pray God they would continue to pursue you with all of their heart. I pray for those who used to they used to be in a relationship with you, but things have happened and they find themselves this afternoon not really connected with you. I pray that today would be the day God, before they live one more day, before they breathe one more breath, today would be the day that they open up their heart. They reconnect with you.

They invite you to come in. Lord, for those who have never had a relationship with you, I pray God that they would understand what it means to open the doors of their heart and to invite you to come in and to live on the inside of and to wash them and cleanse them from the inside out. And I pray, oh, God, that they would present themselves to you. They would give you their life just as they are. God.

You don't ask us to get our act together and then come to you. You say, come with our brokenness. Come with our addictions. Come with our frustrations. Come with our hurt.

Come with our anger. Come with our pride. Come just like we are. And you'll sort things out on our behalf. And so, Lord, I pray those who are not in a relationship with you today would make the greatest choice of their life.

And that is to give their heart and life to you. And they would find everything they need, every treasure they're searching for in Jesus. And if you've not done that, I invite you to do that right now. There's no reason for you to walk out of the here. Not in a relationship with him.

Come on. He's longing for you. He longs to have relationship with you. He wants you just like you are. Don't let the enemy convince you otherwise.

Jesus wants you just the way you are. And he's going to lead you to life and life everlasting. So, Lord, thank you for Christmas. Thank you that you make the way to you, Jesus, you said, I am the way and the truth and the life. Thank you.

You've made it simple. Thank you that we can celebrate you this Christmas season. We rejoice. We rejoice that you came. We rejoice that you gave your life so that we could live.

And we rejoice that you are alive today. Thank you, Jesus, that you light up our darkest seasons. Thank you that you wash us of our most vile sin. You make us new creatures in Christ. We love you and celebrate you today.

And everybody who agrees, come on, say amen. Come on, say amen. Church. Hey. Merry Christmas.