We are in a Christmas series called Celebrate Jesus. And the hope is to inform you, remind you, and inspire you to celebrate all that He is to us. How many of you are thankful for Him? You’re truly thankful.

Over the last two weeks, we’ve talked about who He is, why He came, and what He’s done for us. Pastor John Yaden did an awesome job the first week talking about who Jesus is. And Pastor Jodi, Gerald Cameron, did an amazing job last weekend—one of the best messages I’ve ever heard on the simplicity of salvation and the cross.

Today I want to talk about who Jesus is right now and where He is right now. My hope is to raise your awareness—not just of the past, but of the present and the future we have as believers in Christ.

I’m going to ask you to say this with me: “My heart’s open. My mind’s ready. Make me better, God, by Your Word. I receive You. I believe You. I won’t be the same again. In Jesus’ name.”

Congratulations to everyone being baptized across all our locations today—97 people. And I still believe there are three more. It’s not too late. Let someone know today if you want to be baptized.

Jesus is by far the most historically significant person in the history of the world—by far. Not even close. He was born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth, spoke Aramaic, lived a real human life. No one disputes that He lived. But He wasn’t just a man—He was fully man and fully God.

Over 2.4 billion people identify with Jesus today. Typing His name into Google yields hundreds of billions of results. He is not only Savior—He is King.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, he said that Jesus would receive the throne of David and reign forever. His kingdom will never end.

Christmas is not just about a baby in a manger. It’s about a King expanding His kingdom from heaven to earth.

The Kingdom has come—and it is coming.

And though the world looks broken, Scripture reminds us that Christ will reign until all enemies are under His feet. The Kingdom is advancing. God is moving. And one day the kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.

Jesus is King.

Anybody thankful today to be living and doing life in His kingdom?

I have a fun Christmas exercise for you—something you can do this season as a way of celebrating Jesus as King. Look up how many traditional Christmas songs reference Jesus as King or reference His kingdom. I’ll get you started.

We Three Kings.
“Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.”

Joy to the World.
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come,
Let earth receive her King.”

Little Drummer Boy.
“They told me a newborn King to see.”

Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
“Glory to the newborn King.”

It’s all over the Christmas story and the Christmas songs. They knew exactly who He was.

Jesus didn’t go to heaven after His resurrection and take a break. His mission on earth was the beginning of God’s plan to reconcile the world to Himself through His Son. It marked the beginning of a new era.

Jesus was the Lamb. He was the sacrifice. But now God has exalted Him and given Him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess.

Are you thankful today that you know Him? That you’re on His side?

Even while we live on earth, we are citizens of heaven. We recognize Jesus as our King. We choose Jesus as our King. We honor His words as the words of our King. We worship Him as King—the King of a kingdom that will never end.

He is above all authority and all power in heaven and on earth.

Hear me today: Jesus is not some distant angry judge. He’s not “the man upstairs.” He’s not the big guy in the sky. And He’s not just a baby in a manger.

I’m going to ask you at all of our locations to stand to your feet.

We’re going to take another moment today to worship this King—to honor Him, to revere Him for who He is in your life.

According to Scripture, He is King of glory. King of righteousness. King of the ages. King of God’s kingdom. He is healer. He is way maker. He is miracle worker. He is our refuge and our strength. There is none like Jesus.

He goes before us. He is behind us. He is always with us. He is alive today through His Word. His Word gives life. His Word gives strength. His Word heals the brokenhearted. His Word gives sight to the blind.

He is alive today through the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the presence and power of God living in us and with us.

Yes—He rules the world with truth and grace. He is the light of the world, the bright and morning star. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is over all, in all, and through all.

So come today as the psalmist says, let us sing for joy to the Lord. Let us shout aloud to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great king above all comes. [Music] Thank you Jesus. We thank you Jesus. we honor. Can we just lift our voices and sing it today? He alone is worthy for he alone is worthy. Shout it out for it alone is worth. Thank you for everything. We thank you today. We know who you are. We’ll give hand. We’ll give We give you all the glory of the Lord. We give you all the honor. We give him all the Lord. We give you all the praise today. We give him all the praise at all time. We reign. You reign. You rule. You ra the sickness today. You triumph over disease today. Oh come. You are the victory over death today. Over death hell and the great. You are the great king. You are the triumph. You are the triumphant king, conqueror, mighty in power. There is none like you, none before you and none after you. You are one of one. You are one of one. and we worship you above all else in Jesus name. We give you all the glory. We give him all the glory. We give him all. Thank you God. [Music] speak to you. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. You’ve subdued enemies. You’ve strengthened each and every one of us. [Music] You’ve been here for us. You never leave us. You never forsake us. And it’s our turn right now to just exalt you and honor you and worship you for who you really are [Music] in Jesus name. So give me another moment today because when you look at the Christmas story in the first century, you see three very specific responses to Jesus as king. And oddly enough, we see these same responses today. The first one is Herod. King Herod, if you remember, he opposed Jesus as king. He didn’t like the idea that a baby was being born. It kind of threatened his domain. It threatened his own will, his own desire to be king. So he just opposed the idea of Jesus as a king. [Music] The second example, second response to Jesus was the Jewish religious leaders. They had a program. They had a way. they wanted to do things and they dismissed him as king. He wasn’t a real big threat to them just as a teacher, even as a rabbi, but those miracles, [Music] those crowds, so they dismissed him as a king. But then the third response came from what’s called the magi, the wise men who came to Bethlehem bringing gifts. And they brought frankincense, myrr, and gold. And gold was the gift that was reserved for kings. [Music] They came a long ways. They bowed down to him and they worshiped him as king and with open hearts they welcomed him into the earth. And I just think it’s interesting that today there’s still those three kinds of responses in the earth. There’s those who oppose like I don’t have time to change my life or rearrange anything for him. And then there’s those who will just dismiss the idea of actually his lordship and his kingship and that he would tell you what you need to do in his word and you would obey it. Just that’s a little bit much. He dismissed that role, that posture, that position. He He’s okay as a good teacher, somebody I’ll quote, somebody we can, you know, see in history. But no, no, no, no. Don’t don’t start elevating him to that place where I bow before him, where I become humble in mind and heart to say not my will but yours be done. But thank God for the third response. [Music] Thank God for the many today, for the many who come, give our lives, point our focus and our attention toward him. And I congratulate every one of you again who were baptized today. That’s just part of this process. And every one of you, we’re standing on God’s promises in your life. But with heads bowed and eyes closed, I wonder if there’s others today who as I explain that to you, you you say, “You know what? I don’t want to be the first example. I don’t want to be the second response. I want to be the one.” And I feel drawn today to just give the king what belongs to the king. All that is true. Like that’s so true. Historically, it’s been proven who he is. He has time after time conquered and overcome the skeptics, the criticism, those who would oppose him, those who would resist him, those who would dismiss him. And so my heart today is ready. I I want to. And if that’s you, a man, a woman, somebody right now in all of our locations, like if that’s you, I’m just going to invite you on this Christmas Sunday to raise your hand up high and just end all the all the waiting and all all the postponing and all the hesitation by raising your hand high and saying, “Today, I acknowledge him as the King of Kings. I want him to be the king of my life. I want him to rule in my life. I want him to have authority in my life. I want to follow him and only him. Just raise your hands. I see hands going up right here at our location today. Hands are going up. And I invite you right now, just anybody ready for a new beginning in your life to put your hope in him. Raise your hands high in the air. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. Fantastic. I see in my in God bless you. Fantastic. Hands are going up all over this room today. And I know in other locations today, I’m going to ask you with your handh held high. If you would just say this prayer, I’m going to lead you in this prayer today of new beginnings, a prayer of salvation. And we’re going to pray it with you. Pray it with me right now if you would just say this out loud. Say, “Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, I come to you today in a heart of faith and confidence. I call you my savior. I call you my savior. And I call you my king. I call you my king. I ask you to forgive me. I ask you of all my sin. All my s. Come into my life. Make me a new person. Lead me forward. I bow before you. I reverence you. And I worship you. For you are you are not only my savior but you are my king. In Jesus name. Let’s celebrate new beginnings in the house today, can we? God bless you, church.