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[0:00] Let's take our Bibles and turn now to Luke chapter 2, the Gospel of Luke, the second chapter 2, where we may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may from God's Word. In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria, and everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house in line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,

[1:33] Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. 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 host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in the manger.

[2:14] When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen, heard, and seen, which were just as they had been told.

[2:37] You are the innkeeper in the little town of Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. That's at least in part how you make your money. You take in guests and you keep them for the night and feed them. And then one day you hear news that would have made every innkeeper's heart jump for joy. Caesar Augustus has issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world, a registration for people that they might be taxed. And everyone would have to return to his hometown to register. You see what a windfall that would be to your business. The roads would be teeming with people traveling around, away from home. So many would need a place to stay. And I'm sure, and sure enough, it all happened just as it had been decreed. And so instead of the occasional trickle of visitors to Bethlehem, the place is crawling with people. And night after night, you're all full up, no vacancy.

[3:55] Business is booming, you're working hard, and you're making lots of money. And it was on just such a night that you got a knock at the door and found a young man from Nazareth with a wife who was very pregnant, seeking a room. What are you to do?

[4:17] Well, you must tell him what you've had to tell all the other inquirers that have come late, that you are all out of room. Perhaps you offered him the little you had left, a shelter in the stable where the animals were bedded down for the night. And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

[4:54] There was no room for them in the inn. I'm sure you've thought of that innkeeper before. And many times I think he takes a lot of flack as if he were especially inhospitable and unkind.

[5:11] We simply don't know that. All we know is that he had no room, no vacancy in his inn. And so the Lord of glory was born in a cattle stall with a feeding trough for his bed.

[5:34] But now, though the innkeeper may have been innocent enough that night, yet in the providence of God, this whole event foreshadowed a much more sinister reality, because it foreshadows the reception that Jesus Christ would receive as he came into this wicked world.

[5:55] That the hearts of men would meet this entreating Savior with the response, no room, no room for you here. And when the baby grew up, this is precisely what he met with.

[6:09] When we turn to John's gospel, it does not begin like Matthew and Luke with this detailed account of Jesus' birth like we had read for us.

[6:21] But he still does tell us that the eternal God became man. And there he is called the Word. The Word who was with God in the beginning.

[6:34] The Word who was God. The Word who created all things and without him was not anything made that was made. That Word became flesh and lived among us.

[6:48] He didn't just shout the message to us from heaven. He was made one of us and lived among us. He brought salvation to us.

[7:01] And when he did come and live among us, what kind of reception then did he receive? John tells us in that opening chapter. He was in the world. And the world was made through him.

[7:15] And yet the world did not know him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. John 1, 10 and 11.

[7:26] Strange. Strange. Strange. But coming to his own, they would not know him. And that they would have no room for him. I mean, the one place where you are accepted is among your own, isn't it?

[7:44] Perhaps out in the world when you're away from home at the job. Maybe there you catch a lot of flack. But when you come home there, you're accepted. When you come to your own. This week, all over many parts of the world, people are coming to their own.

[7:59] They're coming home for Christmas. And they come and they ring the doorbell. And immediately the door is thrown open. And arms embrace them.

[8:11] And hearts find room for them. There's always room for you. You're one of us. You've come to your own. But when Jesus comes to his own.

[8:24] And he knocks at the door. We look through the peek hole. And we see who it is. And we leave the door shut and bolted. No room for him here.

[8:41] Strange this. That coming to his own. He should be despised and rejected of men. That he should be the man of sorrow and acquainted with grief.

[8:52] And that our rejection would be so hardened. That we would crucify him. Indeed, we were one in nature with those that chanted.

[9:04] Crucify. Crucify. No room for Jesus. The king of glory. The favorite of heaven. When he comes to the world he created. Why is this?

[9:16] It's not like he comes to take from us. He doesn't come to steal. To kill. Or to destroy. He comes to give. Life. And that more abundantly.

[9:27] To give us eternal life. To bring to us. Freedom from sin. Forgiveness. A right. Relationship. With God. He doesn't come to condemn us.

[9:40] Indeed, we were already condemned. He comes. Rather. To save. That which was lost. Came to save us from our sins.

[9:51] To save us from hell. To take us to heaven. And yet we say no room. What is the insanity of sin? I want us to consider four reasons the world has no room for Jesus.

[10:07] No room. Because number one. There's no room for God in all their thoughts. Psalm 10 and verse 4 does an MRI on the mind of sinful man.

[10:19] There we see it. Exposed for what it is. Psalm 10 verse 4. In his pride, the wicked does not seek him. In all his thoughts, there is no room for God.

[10:34] And so the machine is focused on the mind. And it's looking at every thought that passes through that mind. And the conclusion is that in all his thoughts, there's no room.

[10:46] No room. For God. That's the sinful mind. Cram full of thoughts. It's like a large hotel or an inn with many, many rooms.

[11:00] But they're all occupied. They're all full. Full of many things. But the one thing that is missing in those rooms is God himself. Just as there were other guests at the inn the night that Jesus was born.

[11:15] So the rooms of man's mind are filled with other things. Important things. Trivial things. Many thoughts given to work. To boyfriends and girlfriends.

[11:28] To sports. To houses. Hobbies. Music. Internet. Television. Money. Self. Things.

[11:39] But when God comes knocking for a place in the mind. The sign that goes up is no vacancy. No room here. All full up.

[11:51] But when other things come for a place in the mind. That sign is brought down and vacancy is put up. And room is made. But in their thoughts there is no room for God.

[12:06] Now think about that. Because what occupies a man's mind is a matter of preference. It shows what we like. It shows what we love.

[12:20] It reveals what we value. What we regard as important. And no small part of the wickedness of man is that we do not value thoughts about God.

[12:32] And that is why the call to repent in Isaiah 55 includes. Let the wicked forsake his way. And the evil man his thoughts. Because your thoughts are not my thoughts.

[12:45] Indeed in all your thoughts there is no room for me. Paul said the same thing in Romans chapter 1. That all men possess a certain knowledge of God.

[12:57] Through creation. We learn of his great power. His eternal being. And in conscience. We have this awareness of God.

[13:09] But rather than taking that knowledge. And glorifying God for who he is. And giving thanks to him. Man rather suppresses the truth. That they know about God.

[13:21] Romans 1.18. They try to push it out of their minds. Even exchanging the truth of God for a lie. They don't like to think about God. That's the message of Romans 1.

[13:34] They don't like to think about God any more than fugitives like to think about policemen. In verse 28 of Romans 1 it says. They did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God.

[13:48] You see it's a matter of values. What we think about. What we regard as worthwhile. Worth hanging on to. It's like when you're playing a card game.

[14:01] And you've got a fistful of cards. And you need to discard. What cards do you discard? Well you get rid of the cards. That are of little value to you. That's not going to help me at all in this game.

[14:14] That is of no value to me. And you discard it. And so the sinful mind is ever playing cards with its thoughts. And it is continually evaluating which ones are worth hanging on to and which ones aren't.

[14:28] And there. There's that thought about God. That's not worth anything. And they discard it. And this. That thought about God. That's not going to do me any good.

[14:39] And they discard. So the sinful mind. Does not think it worthwhile to retain.

[14:50] To hang on to the knowledge of God. Much less to add to it. To meditate upon it. And that's why in all of his thoughts. There is no room for God.

[15:03] Job 21.14. They say to God. Leave us alone. We have no desire to know your ways. Now how different is the renewed mind? The mind renewed by the spirit of God.

[15:16] Finds room in their minds. For God. Not just one room. Sequestered all by itself.

[15:27] And there is Sunday. And that's where they think about God. No. That's not the idea. Rather. All their thoughts are mingled with thoughts of God. In things created.

[15:40] The mind thinks of the infinite creator. We look upon the sunset. And the mind thinks of the artist. We look into the face of our child.

[15:51] And we have joy in him. And we think of the goodness of God. Even at work. Though our minds are very busy. There's the thought that I am here serving God.

[16:03] On my job. In school. I'm here to love God with all my mind. I'm here to exercise discernment. To think about the world that God has made.

[16:17] Never far from the thought of God. At play. He thinks of God. Who gave him health and strength. In all his thoughts. There is room for God. You see. Indeed God.

[16:29] Occupies the. Predominant part. Of his thoughts. For he sets the Lord before him. He's there at his right hand. He fixes his mind on Jesus.

[16:43] He meditates on his law day and night. And out of all the thoughts that he has in a day. He considers the thoughts about God as his very best thoughts. Thou my best thought.

[16:56] By day. Or by night. Not so the wicked. The moment such a thought of God crosses the mind. It's quickly crowded out. The mind is kept so chock full.

[17:09] That there simply is no vacancy. No room. For God. That's a telltale mark of the wicked. The psalmist says. It's the mind that we were all born with.

[17:19] A mind. That wanted to push God out. Occupied with other things. Anything. Other than. The living God.

[17:30] So the sign on man's heart reads. No room. For God. And understanding that about man. Will not be surprised when God.

[17:41] Visits earth. That he is found. That he finds this reception of no room. No room. For you here. In John chapter 8.

[17:52] Jesus is among his own people. He's come to his own. The Jews. Verse 37. He says. I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you're ready to kill me.

[18:04] Because you have no room. For my word. There's no room for Jesus. Because there's no room for his word.

[18:15] Notice your attitude toward Jesus. Is determined by your attitude toward his word. Jesus came speaking words. Didn't he? And he preached the law of God.

[18:28] And he applied its commands. In such a way that condemned them all. As guilty before God. All of them. Needing grace. They had no room.

[18:39] For those words. He claimed to be the judge of all men. And that only by believing on him. Could they have eternal life. Who does the carpenter's son think he is anyway?

[18:52] That by believing on him. We live forever. Claimed to be greater than their father Abraham. Before Abraham was.

[19:03] I am. They tried to stone him for that. No room for his word. He claimed to be the son of God. Equal with his father in heaven.

[19:13] Sent by him. And they would crucify him. For that. You are ready to kill me. Because you have no room. For my word. You see the theme.

[19:24] That we're finding in scripture. It wasn't just the inn in Bethlehem that night. That had no room. It was the thoughts of men. No room there for God. It was the word of Christ.

[19:35] No room in their hearts for his word. Jeremiah 6.10. The word of the Lord is offensive to them. They find no pleasure in it.

[19:46] So what about you? Is there room in your heart for Jesus? Well. Is there room in your heart for his word? Because that's where you meet Jesus.

[19:59] That's where he comes and speaks to you. And by believing his word. That's how you show that you trust Jesus. And by obeying his word.

[20:10] That's how you show that you love Jesus. You remember in John 6. Many followers quit following Jesus. Because of the words that he said.

[20:23] And as they were leaving. Jesus turns to the twelve and says. You don't want to leave me also do you? And Peter answers for the twelve. Lord to whom shall we go? For you have the words.

[20:36] Of eternal life. And we know that you are. We believe and know that you are. The holy one of God. You have an appetite for these wonderful words of life.

[20:49] Never fool yourself thinking you have room for Jesus. If you don't have room for his words. His words. Does it live in you? Is it at work in you? Is it your meat?

[21:00] Is it your drink? Is it your textbook on how to think? And how to live? The word. What room are you making?

[21:10] For Jesus and his word. We're looking at the world this morning. That has no room for Jesus. And we're trying to understand why. And we're finding out in scripture.

[21:22] That the mind of the sinner. Has no room for thoughts about God. And there's no room there for the words of Jesus. And thirdly. There's no room for a savior from sins.

[21:34] Kids you remember why Jesus came. The angel announced his mission. He will be called Jesus. You are to give him the name Jesus. Because he will save his people from their sins.

[21:48] He will save them. That's his mission. To save. He's come to rescue. People. From sin.

[22:01] But sinners like to be saved from sin. About like a dog likes to be saved. From eating a T-bone steak. That's one thing he'd rather not be rescued from.

[22:17] In fact if you try to save him. You might lose some fingers. In the process. By nature he loves T-bone steaks. And so by nature. Fallen man loves his own sins.

[22:30] Jesus' mission. Is to save us from what we love. Now that will present a problem. To save us from what we love.

[22:40] That's a savior we don't want. That's a salvation he can keep to himself. We've got no room for a savior. From sin. Peter said it.

[22:52] When he preached to the people after Pentecost. In Acts 3. He said when God raised up his servant. He sent him first to you Jews. To bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.

[23:07] He sent Jesus to you. To bless you. And what's the blessing Jesus brings? It's to turn you away from your wicked ways. Wicked ways. Well they may have been wicked ways.

[23:17] But they were not ways that men wanted to part with. They were treasured ways. They were chosen ways. We all lie cheap. Have gone astray. We all.

[23:30] Are in this together. We've all gone astray. That's the general word. Now hear the specific word. Each of us. Has turned to his own way. Every one of us.

[23:41] Has our own way of sin. Just as ice cream comes in many flavors. So does sin. And you have your favorites. And I had mine. We had our favorite sins.

[23:53] And every one of us. Chose our own. Favorite ways of sin. But what they all had in common. Is that we all. Chose ways that were going astray from God.

[24:05] And his ways. And he has sent his son to save us from our. Cherished favorites. That's trouble.

[24:18] That's trouble. And so the world has no room for a Jesus on a mission to save from sin. And you know most rest. Most rescuers are welcomed.

[24:29] Aren't they. It's about this time last year that some. Mountain climbers. Were lost on Mount Hood. Out in Washington State.

[24:40] And. You suppose they'd have welcomed. A rescuer. Sent out. To rescue them. Well sure they would have. They lost their lives. For the lack of a rescuer.

[24:54] But what is this. Of people. In far greater trouble. Much more lost. Than they ever would be. Captives of sin. And God kindly. And lovingly.

[25:05] Launches a rescue operation. By sending his son. Into war. Into the world. To die. As a substitute. On Calvary. That. Whosoever believes in him.

[25:16] Should not perish. But have everlasting life. And they want no room. For such a savior. Such a rescue. It's because. Jesus comes. To save them.

[25:26] From the things. They loved. And that surface. Quite early. In his public ministry. As long as he was healing. And multiplying. The bread and the fish. They can't say enough.

[25:36] Good. About Jesus. Oh how the thousands. Came. When the bread. Was multiplied. And as long. As the miracles. Flowed like wine. They called him wonderful.

[25:47] They came to dine. But when he confronts them. With their bondage to sin. With their self-righteous. Pride. With their formalism.

[25:59] Their outward religion. With their lust. With their sexual immorality. With their bitterness. Their hatred. Their greed.

[26:10] Their love of money. When he comes. And. Confronts them. With their worship. Of other things. Rather than himself. And calls them to repent. Or to perish.

[26:22] Nobody wanted him. Anymore. Now they're ready. To rid the earth of him. They're not wanting. To be rescued. From these things. And that's what Jesus said.

[26:33] To his own brothers. Who couldn't understand. Why he doesn't want to go. Up to the Passover. Up to the festival. The feast. In Jerusalem. If you're wanting. To be the leader. Of the nation. Should not a leader. Show himself.

[26:44] To the multitudes. And Jesus says. The world hates me. Because I testify. That what it does. Is evil. And they didn't like that. They wanted to be. Left alone.

[26:54] In their sins. Here's a good Christmas text. John 3. 19 and 20. From the lips of Jesus. This is the verdict.

[27:05] This is the. This is the end of it. Light. Light. Light. Light. Has come. Into the world. That's Christmas. Light. We read about the darkness.

[27:17] That covered the earth. About the great light. Those sitting in darkness. Would see a great light. Here it is. Light. Has come. Into the world. But men.

[27:27] Love. Darkness. Instead of light. Because their deeds. Were evil. And everyone. Who does evil. Hates the light. And will not. Come. Into the light.

[27:38] For fear. That his deeds. Will be exposed. You see. As long. As the heart. Loves darkness. It will hate. The light. Ever had a flashlight.

[27:50] Shown in your eyes. When you've been walking. In the dark. Some policeman. Shines that beam. In your eyes. It just. Makes you back up. It's not. What you.

[28:01] You find pleasant. So the one. Who's enjoying. Their sin. And their darkness. Doesn't enjoy. The light. When Jesus comes. As long.

[28:12] As the heart. Loves sin. It will have no room. For the holy Jesus. Who comes. To save us. From our sins. You remember. The. Rescuer.

[28:23] The messiah. That. The Jews. Were looking for. Was one. To rescue them. From Rome. From the dominion. The servitude. To Rome. And as they came.

[28:33] To see that his deliverance. Was not from. Any political power. But rather from. The bondage of sin. Well. They were no longer. Interested in Jesus. As their messiah.

[28:45] No. Thank you. No room. For a messiah. Like you. You know. It's no different today. You can tell people. That Jesus came. To give them. A better self image.

[28:56] You can tell people. That Jesus came. To give them. A better marriage. And more healthy. Family relationships. You can tell. How Jesus. Will give them. Financial stability. How he will give them.

[29:07] Better health. Better work situation. Happiness. Fulfillment. And people. Will make plenty of room. For this Jesus. They will enjoy. This Jesus. But you tell them.

[29:20] That they are so bad. That only the bloody death. Of the son of God. Can ever wipe away. Their sins. And they'll have no room.

[29:30] For this Jesus. You tell them. This Jesus demands. That they quit their sinning. Go and sin no more. That they learn. To obey his commands. That they seek his kingdom.

[29:41] And righteousness first. That they seek moral purity. And quit conforming. To the world. Standards. And suddenly. There's no room. For Jesus. No interest.

[29:52] In this Jesus. They love their sinful. Lifestyle. And have no intentions. Whatsoever. Of forsaking it. For a life of holiness. In service to Christ.

[30:05] Translated. That is the sign. That goes up. No room. For Jesus. Who saves. His people. From their sins. Believers.

[30:17] Are we not ashamed. To think that we once loved our sins. More than our savior. Is that not a humbling thought to us. As we think about the Christmas message.

[30:29] That. God sent his one and only son. Into the world. And we still loved our sin. More. Than him. Oh. But he still loved us.

[30:41] Even in our sin. Didn't he? And now we're glad that he saved us from our sin. We're glad that he's broken our love affair with sin. We're set free from the bondage of sin.

[30:52] It's no longer our master. We no longer serve it. He's rescued us from its guilt and its power. We say hallelujah. What a savior.

[31:03] That saves us from sin. But the world finds no room for Jesus. Because there's no room for a savior from sin. And then lastly.

[31:13] There's no room for a king to rule over us. No one shows us that more clearly than King Herod himself. Not a Jew. But an Edomite.

[31:24] Whom Caesar had established as king. To rule over the Jews. And when wise men from the east came. Inquiring of the one who had been born King of the Jews. He was greatly disturbed.

[31:35] The Bible tells us. Because he was the King of the Jews. He knew who the King of the Jews was. It's me. But they're talking about some King of the Jews. That was just born.

[31:46] They've seen his star. And they've come to worship him. And he's alarmed. No rival to his throne would be tolerated. History tells us that he tortured any conspirators to his realm.

[32:01] He even murdered three of his own sons. Who he thought had an eye to his throne. And so now this newborn king is viewed with suspicion. He's considered a rival as competition.

[32:14] He must not be allowed to live. But Herod is a wise operator. And so he pretends to have an interest in worshiping the newborn king. And he asked the Jewish religious leaders.

[32:26] The scribes. And those that would know. Where's this Messiah king to be born? And they say in Bethlehem of Judah. There is one to arise to be ruler and shepherd over God's people.

[32:38] And so he sent the wise men to Bethlehem to make a careful search for the child. And as soon as they found him to report back to him. So that he too could go and worship the baby as well.

[32:51] You know the story. And how the wise men went and found the Christ child. And worshipped him. And were warned in a dream not to return back to Herod. And so they went home another way.

[33:02] And when Herod found out that he had been outwitted by the wise men. He was furious. And he sent his soldiers with the order to go and to kill all the two-year-old boys and under in Bethlehem and its vicinity.

[33:17] This king. This threat to my reign must not be allowed to live. And you know. He stands as a picture of the human heart.

[33:28] Do you know that that same heart beats in the breast of every one of us as we're born into this world? Herod didn't have room for another king. And the human heart.

[33:39] The sinful fallen heart. Doesn't have room for another king. Beside king's self. We want to be our own boss. We don't want anyone telling us what to do. What not to do.

[33:50] We hear of the Lord Jesus coming to us from heaven. Not only to save us. But as a king to rule over us. Not with ten suggestions. But with ten commandments.

[34:02] And with the demands that we repent. And we believe on him. That we get down off of the throne of our life. And we bow our hearts to King Jesus. And we recognize that he is king.

[34:14] And we are servants. And all of this starts to make us awfully nervous. And disturbed like Herod. We feel threatened. We don't like it.

[34:26] I'm comfortable making my own decisions. And we come to say with Herod. There is no room for another king.

[34:38] We will not have this man to rule over us. Is our cry. And our rejection of Christ the king. Is just as real as King Herod's. No room.

[34:49] In our hearts for Jesus the king. And oh but every knee will bow. And every tongue will confess. That Jesus Christ is king. That he is Lord of lords. And king of kings.

[35:00] To the glory of God the Father. You see he is the rightful king. God the Father has enthroned him. And all that man does. Can never unseat him.

[35:12] And again believers. How blessed we are. That ever the spirit of God. Humbled our hearts before this king. A king whose rule is so gracious.

[35:24] Whose laws are. Holy. Righteous. And good. And whose service. Is perfect freedom. So though the whole world.

[35:34] Is combining and rebelling. Against this king. Let us serve him gladly. Aldous Huxley. Aldous Huxley. Was a British born thinker. And author.

[35:46] Who in all his thoughts. Had no room for God. No room for Jesus word. He wrote prolifically. Maybe some of you students. Have had to read. Brave New World.

[35:58] Just one of his many books. But he was a blasphemous. A godless man. A humanist. Kids that simply means. That man's at the center. And you start with man.

[36:09] And you end with man. There is no God. There's only man. And when you die. You die like the dog. Man is God.

[36:21] A humanist. And Huxley was viewed. In some academic circles. As a leader in modern thought. And as an intellectual. Of the highest rank. Toward the end of his life.

[36:32] He spoke. To a conference hall. Full of scientists. Who came to hear the conclusions. Of Huxley's. Investigation. Into the meaning of life.

[36:44] He stood before that. Auguste assembly. And he said. I am very embarrassed. Because I've worked. For 40 years. I studied everything around.

[36:55] I did experiments. I went to several countries. And all I can tell you. Is to be just a little kinder. To each other. You mean that's it.

[37:08] You mean he came up empty. Yes. To have no room for Jesus. The light of the world.

[37:19] Is to be left. In the dark. It's to be left. In darkness. As to the most important. Questions of life. Who is God?

[37:32] Who am I? Why am I here? What's the meaning to this life? Where am I going? To have no room for Jesus.

[37:45] Is to have no room for the light. It's to remain. In darkness. In darkness. Man left to himself.

[37:57] Then is in the dark. Isn't he? Cannot perceive. Spiritual realities. He cannot perceive. The kingdom of God. Jesus says. It's. You're left with the blind. Leading the blind.

[38:08] And both will fall into the ditch. If then the light. Within you. Be darkness. How great. Is that darkness. Jesus said. And so it was in his thick darkness.

[38:19] That Huxley finally turned. To experimenting with LSD. And other. Psychedelic drugs. In his search for enlightenment. Maybe.

[38:30] These chemicals. Have the answers. To life. Here's his enlightened advice on death. We're all going to face it.

[38:41] So. Listen. To this enlightened view of death. Ignore death. Up to the last moment. Then. When it can't be ignored.

[38:51] Any longer. Have yourself squirted. Full of morphine. And shuffle off. In a coma. Do you sense something.

[39:02] Of the pall. Of darkness. When there's no room. For the light of the world. And so. On the same day. That. President JFK.

[39:13] Was assassinated. Back in 63. Huxley lying on a. Deathbed. From cancer. Ordered his wife. To shoot him up. With LSD.

[39:24] And he shuffled off. In a drug induced coma. Shuffled off. The stage. Of life. And woke up. Immediately.

[39:35] In the presence. Of the God. That he had ignored. The God. He had had no room for. Now. He must face him. As his judge. A heart.

[39:50] With no room. For Jesus. Is a heart. Where sin. And darkness. And death reigns. Have you any room. For Jesus. Room. For Jesus. King of glory. You see. In the birth. Of Jesus.

[40:01] The rising sun. Has come from heaven. To shine on those. Living in darkness. And in the shadow of death. To guide our feet. Into the path. Of peace. I am the light.

[40:12] Of the world. Whoever follows me. Will never walk. In darkness. But will have the light. Of life. And it's in his light. That we see light.

[40:23] It's walking in the light. Of the son of God. That we have light. And answers. To the most important questions. To life. And so.

[40:36] The son of God. Comes knocking. Just as really. As he showed up. In the womb of Mary. At that inn. In Bethlehem. Two thousand years ago.

[40:48] He comes. Seeking admission. And the innkeeper. Didn't know who it was. That he turned away. That evening. Or I believe. He would have offered.

[40:59] His own bed. But here's the thing. You do know. Who he is. This morning. You have the record. Of who he is.

[41:10] He's not just another man. He was born. Of a virgin. By the power. Of the Holy Spirit. He is God's own son. Come from heaven. The eternal. God.

[41:21] He lived a perfect life. And he died. And he died an atoning death. And he rose again. And he's ascended into heaven. You have the full record. Can you stand.

[41:31] Before this Jesus. Knowing who he is. And still say. No room. No room. In my heart. For you. Oh receive him. As your.

[41:42] Savior. From sin. Receive him. As your king. To rule over you. I'm not asking you. To have pity on Jesus. This morning. That's not the.

[41:53] The message. Poor. Poor Jesus. No room. For Jesus. My friend. It's not. Him. Who needs. A place. To stay.

[42:04] It's you. Who desperately. Needs. This savior. To stay. In your heart. Oh come. To my heart. Lord Jesus. There's room.

[42:14] In my heart. For thee. Give him the throne. Of your heart. And what will he do? He will come in. And he will transform. Your whole life. Believers.

[42:27] What is our privilege? To have the son of God. Come. And live within us. Not just staying. For a night or two. And moving on.

[42:38] But by his spirit. To live within us. Every day. Forever. And ever. His presence in us. Is our strength. His presence in us. Is our peace.

[42:48] It's our joy. It's our stability. In facing the unknown future. It's our forgiveness. In facing. Our sinful past. And present.

[43:01] Have we. Believers. Put anything. In the place of Jesus. Has he heard from us lately? No room. Anything in the place of Jesus.

[43:12] By very definition. Becomes an idol. Oh. Let us confess our idols. And let us make room. In our hearts. For Jesus. That's the very language.

[43:23] Of the apostle Paul. When he wrote to the Corinthians. And he says. You have such a place. In our hearts. That we would live. Or die with you. Now. Make room.

[43:34] In your. Hearts. For us. As not the son of God said. You have such a place. In my heart. That I have lived.

[43:45] And died for you. Now make room. In your hearts. For me. Ask yourself. Is there. More. Of your heart. To open up. To this wonderful savior.

[43:56] Is there more. Room. To make. For him. In your heart. Remember that. Word of invitation. To the church. In Laodicea.

[44:08] Church. That had grown complacent. Church. That. Was self-sufficient. Didn't need. Jesus anymore. Jesus says. You. You don't know.

[44:19] The half of it. You are. Wretched. Poor. Blind. Pitiful. But I counsel you. To come. And to buy from me. To get everything. You need from me. Behold.

[44:30] I stand. At the door. And knock. And if anyone. Hears my voice. And opens the door. I will come in. And eat with him. And he. With me. What a sad picture.

[44:43] That in the church. Where Jesus. Comes to his own. That he should be found. Outside the door. Knocking. Seeking. Admission. Is it not true. Believers.

[44:53] That. That we can have our lives. So chock full. With everything. Even Christmas. And Jesus. Must be made. To wait. Outside the door. As we approach.

[45:04] The new year. Where can you make more room. For Jesus. This year. In your heart. In your life. What areas. Can you invite him into. Where he has not been.

[45:14] Presently welcomed. That decision. To be made. That relationship. Those habits. Can you make more room. For him. In your thoughts. Can you make more room.

[45:26] For his word. In your schedule. It's a call. To fellowship. He wants to come in. And eat with you. And enjoy the most intimate.

[45:37] Of fellowship. With you. It's a call. To bow. To his lordship. And to his reign. As king. Oh come to my heart.

[45:47]  Lord Jesus. There is room. In my heart. For thee.