in the Union Grove Baptist Church. Let me ask you a question. What are you hoping for today? What's your big hope? What do you want? What is it that you're seeking? Now, seeing that Christmas is coming up, some of you are hoping for a new car in the driveway. May or may not happen, probably not, but it could. Some of you are hoping for a wonderful job review. Some of you are hoping for different things in life that could come your way. Well, this morning we're going to talk about Christmas, and I want you to center on that second word, Christmas assurance. Christmas assurance. You heard the word hope used multiple times this morning. And hope is kind of a nebulous, open-ended kind of word. We hope for things. Well, you know, you can hope for a new Mercedes in the garage on Christmas. That's a hope. It's not necessarily going to be a reality. Things we hope for, things we want, aren't necessarily things that are going to come to fruition. You've heard people say, boy, I just, I hope things are gonna go well today. I hope I don't get sick. I hope this is gonna take place. I hope my family's gonna feel better. I hope that, as was said here, that I have enough money to buy Christmas presents and take care of my family this year. Well, hope is not a plan. Hope is not a guarantee. So I wanna talk about something that is not a hope. I want to talk about something that is the greatest assurance ever given to us. Many of you are here this morning as visitors. We are so thankful that you're here. Many of folks, we come to church. Some folks come once a week, sometimes multiple weeks. Some people come maybe once a year for something like Christmas. And you're reaching out and it's like, okay, we understand, like was portrayed this morning, like the mom who has two kids and things aren't going well and life has been just hard. And she's like, boy, I'm really hoping things will go better. I'm hoping my finances will be better. I'm hoping life will just get better for me. and there's no assurance. It's just a hope. It's just, well, we'll see how things go. Well, this morning I wanna share with you in the time that we have this morning about the greatest assurance. One thing I wanna make very clear, this is not a normal church. You say, well, what do you mean by that? What we're gonna share with you this morning is 100% from God's word, the Bible. That's the only thing we believe in here. Stories are good. Plays are good. They help us to understand some things. But what are you hoping in this morning? Do you have assurance of what's going to happen to you when you breathe your last breath? I can guarantee you there's folks here this morning that if you died right now, you have no clue where you're going. You don't know. And you're reaching out, and it's like, well, yeah, it's a good thing to go to church. I try to do my best. I try to do things like I believe God would want me to do, but I haven't got a clue if when I die, I'm gonna go to heaven. I sure hope I do, but I don't know. How about getting some assurance this morning? I'm going to share from you from God's Word how you can absolutely be on the shadow of a doubt. Know that if you're to breathe your last breath this morning on how you can get to heaven, some of you aren't going to go there right now. You say, well, that's not very encouraging. but I want you to listen because I'm gonna tell you the truth this morning from God's word. I'm going to tell you, even if you are in that predicament right now of not knowing what Jesus did, not knowing who Jesus is, not knowing the assurance of your eternal destiny, Stay alive for 30 minutes, and by the time we get to the end, we'll guarantee that you'll know exactly how to get to heaven this morning. Well, again, I hope I finish my Christmas shopping in time. That's a hope. It's like, well, how am I gonna get that done? I hope I get good grades on the test that I take, or I hope I get that good job review from my boss, or I hope that somehow I can heal up a broken relationship that I have. And many of you, potentially this morning, those watching on the internet, are asking this. I hope I go to heaven someday. Hope is not a plan. Hope is not a plan. How about let's put a plan together this morning from God's word on how you can know for certain if he died you'd go to heaven. 1 Thessalonians chapter one verse five said, for our gospel, and we'll talk about what the gospel is in a moment. For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much what? Assurance, assurance, assurance, not a hope. Again, hope is not a plan. Assurance, there is a plan that we're going to look at. What does it mean to have assurance of heaven? It means to be completely certain about something. It means to have full assurance. It means that you have a confirmation of exactly what's going to take place. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Some of you are like, that's impossible, that's incredible. the young lady that was portraying the mother this morning, and she's hoping that the kids will be cared for. She's hoping that she can go to heaven. Then all of a sudden, something dawns on her. She hears the message of Christ from the gospel, and she takes it up to that point. of accepting what we're about to look at in just a moment. This morning, very quickly, we're going to examine the gospel of Jesus Christ and how you can have assurance, not a hope, but an absolute, unequivocal assurance of eternal life. Let's pray. Father, I pray now in these few moments that we open up the blessed book of God, the only book that you've ever given us to read, the holy inspired book without error, without fault, awesome, incredible in its content. I pray, Lord, that you'd speak to our hearts this morning. Father, you made it very clear that the word of God will not return void in our hearts, but it will do something because it is your word. So Father, I pray for every single person here For those that already have placed their faith and trust in Christ, might we be encouraged by the faith that we have in Jesus Christ this morning. And for those that are here this morning that have never placed their faith and trust in Jesus, they have been hoping but they haven't gone to the plan that you've given to us. I pray, Lord, that you change lives this morning that today their lives might be transformed and they might find the assurance of their salvation in Jesus Christ before they leave this building this morning. Father, do the miracle that only you can do in the hearts of people, and we ask the Holy Spirit to move throughout this room this morning that we might see your grace in action. Father, we commit all this to you in Jesus' precious name. Amen, the Bible says again word of God 1st Thessalonians chapter 1 it says for our gospel Well, what's the gospel our gospel did not come to you simply in word? Well, what is the gospel and you heard a good portion of it this morning when they were in Luke 2 and And in Luke chapter two, the Bible says, and it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. Well, when we look at where Mary and Joseph were, they were living up in Nazareth, which is at the northern end of Israel. It's about 97 miles to get from Nazareth down to where Bethlehem is. Why did that happen? Because the prophet in the Old Testament had prophesied that Jesus had to be born where? In Nazareth? Uh-uh, in Bethlehem. So all of a sudden, God has to make this come to pass. By the way, there's about 1,000 prophecies in the Bible. 500 have come to pass exactly as written, meaning 500 more will come to pass. Some of that, and I'm not trying to get books out, but that's why I wrote the book on globalism. and on artificial intelligence and the devolution of democracy. I write those things because they're pointing to things that are going to come to fulfillment based on what Scripture tells us. And we go through the Bible, we point out the things, we go through current events. and these things are pointing to what's going to happen. But let's go back to things that have been fulfilled. Again, Luke chapter two verse one, it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered, basically taxed. This census first took place when Quirinius was governing Syria so that all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Why did Mary and Joseph have to head all the way down 97 miles on a donkey on a horseback at best and get down to Bethlehem because God said that's exactly how it was to take place. So here we have, as you know the story, Mary and Joseph, poor Mary is great with child. They're going on this 97 mile journey through the rocks and the hills of Israel to get down to where God said, Jesus would be born. Verse four, Luke two, Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was the house and lineage of David, to do what? To be registered, as the government demanded. To be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. Now, we could go through a long explanation of what a betrothal means. Joseph had no intimate relations with his betrothed wife, Mary. For those that are familiar with what a betrothal is in Jewish custom, it's a contract. It's a contract between a man and a woman that they will eventually come together, live in the same home, and build a family. Well, they weren't at that point yet. They were simply betrothed. They weren't officially married. And all of a sudden, as we saw when the play was done this morning, What did Mary do? How could she betray me? How could she be with child? And of course the angel comes. That was a good looking angel, wasn't it? Some of you are saying, wait a minute, I thought angels were female. Uh-uh, there's no such thing as a female angel in the Bible. They're all males, believe it or not. And that was my son, that's why he's good looking. Anyway. But here we have Mary and Joseph there. They're coming down, great with child to be registered. And then what happens? Well, so it was that while they were there in Bethlehem, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. An unbelievable story, and they brought that to light during the play. Why would Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, who comes down, who's implanted, if you will, in Mary, why is he born in such a humble setting? Why is he born and acted as a little lamb that is placed in swaddling clothes and put in a manger like a little lamb would that would be prepared for a sacrifice someday? I just said that very much on purpose, keep that in mind. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, the priestly shepherds, keeping watch over their flock by night. Behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. I think if you saw angels, you'd be afraid too. Then the angel said to them, do not be afraid for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David, Bethlehem, a savior who is Christ the Lord. Why, and this is, I'm not gonna get real deep into it, Valerie will be talking about it at the woman's breakfast on Tuesday. But here's what's taking place. These were not ordinary shepherds, these were priestly shepherds. They're a minimum of 30 years old. They're out in the shepherd's field and they're guarding, if you will, the lambs, the sheep, if you will, that will be sacrificed in the temple three miles up the road. And when a baby lamb was born that was being prepared for sacrifice, they would take that lamb, the shepherds, the priestly shepherds would pick the little lamb up, they would wrap it in swaddling clothes because it had to be without spot, without blemish, because it had to be a perfect sacrifice that would be given to God. And these shepherds are then, coming in contact with these angels and they're being told that there would be Jesus that was going to be born in Bethlehem, verse 12, and this will be a sign to you, shepherds. What was the sign? The sign was these shepherds who would prepare the priestly lambs, if you will, the sacrificial lambs, knew exactly what they were looking for. They were told, go into Bethlehem, find a little baby that's wrapped up just like you would a sacrificial lamb. Pick up the little baby, you'll find the baby, he's going to be in a manger, just the same as you do with that sacrificial lamb. You wrap it in swaddling clothes, you lay it in the manger to protect it. That's where you're going to find the sign, and the sign was very, very vivid to these priestly shepherds. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men. So it was when the angels had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherds said to one another, let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe, Jesus. lying in a manger. Now when they had seen him, Jesus, they made widely known the same which was told them concerning this child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things which they had seen and heard as it was told them. Well, let's take a look at this. The proclamation of the gospel. Galatians chapter four makes it very clear. Once again, God's word. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son, Jesus Christ, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem, catch that word, to redeem those who are under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons. Well, what does it mean to redeem? Every single one of us needs to be redeemed, and that's why Jesus came. What is redemption? It's to be released, if you will, from a debt. It is when a ransom is paid for someone. And we think about the Israel-Hamas situation right now in Gaza. and you understand about the hostages and how they're being used as bargaining chips. You give us three of our prisoners and we'll give you one hostage. It's a ransom that's being paid. In other words, three bodies for one body. That's the ransom. And God said, listen, you need to be redeemed. Every single one of us in this room, every single person watching today, this person standing up here, we need to be redeemed. Well, folks, what does that mean? It means to be released from bondage. It means when we were caught in the bonds of sin, and every single person in this room, including myself, is a sinner and we're locked up in sin and we're hoping that someday that bondage will be broken and somehow, someway, we might get to heaven. And I say I don't like that plan. I don't like that at all. You see, because hope is not a plan. Well, what is the definition of the gospel? That's what we're talking about this morning. Why did Jesus, God's son, leave heaven's glory, come down to this earth, die on a cross? Why did he go through that? Why would God do that? Why in the world would God himself come down, humble himself as a little baby, lived some 33 years on this earth under very, very simple lifestyle, why would God do that this morning? Well, here's the gospel, here's the good news, and that's what the gospel means, the original word, the euangelion. Moreover, brethren, I declared to you the gospel, the good news, which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you, You, you, you, you are saved. What does the word saved mean? That's one of those Bible words. It means to be saved from sin and saved from the penalty of sin. What does he say? Well, how does that happen? By which also you are saved if you hold fast that word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain. Now here it is, he's gonna tell you exactly what you need to know in order to get to heaven today. Are you ready? Don't miss this. Number one, for I deliver to you first of all that which I also receive. Number one, Christ died for our what? for our sins. In other words we can't get away from it. Romans 3.23 says, we've all sinned and come short of the glory of God. And the Gospel says that Jesus Christ comes into this world, grows up. Folks, the cute little baby is not the story this morning. That's the beginning of the story, if you will. That's the beginning of the account. I don't even like we're using the word story. It's an account, it's a fact, it's what God actually did. He comes as a baby, grows up as a normal human being, at least that's what people think, but he's much, much more than that. You see, he's the God man, and Jesus had to come, the sacrificial lamb, so to speak, Do what? He had to die to pay for our sins. Just like that little lamb who was put in swaddling clothes and laid in the manger, Jesus was put in swaddling clothes, laid in the manger, and prepared for sacrifice. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and then he was buried. That's the second part of the gospel. Number one, he died. He had to die. Number two, to prove he literally was dead, he was buried. Three days he spent in the tomb. but as God predicted many times in the scriptures, he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. I love Easter. That's the real story. This is the beginning of the story. Easter is the culmination of the story when Jesus Christ is crucified, three days in the grave, and then the next day, up from the grave, he arose victorious over death to pay for our sin. That's it. released from bondage, released finally, how? Because of what Jesus did for us. Listen folks, when some of you walked in here this morning, you were hoping, maybe somehow if I go to church, maybe somehow if I sit in the pews this morning, maybe somehow if I'm good this week, maybe God will take me to heaven. And that's what you're hoping and you're hoping and hoping and hoping. but it's not a plan. And God says, let me show you the plan. Here's Jesus, what he did through his death, his burial, and his resurrection. What does the Bible say? For our gospel, the gospel which we just gave to you, the three major points, did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit. If you recall when I prayed just a few moments ago, I was begging the Holy Spirit, please move in the room this morning. Would the Holy Spirit have freedom to move here this morning? Because see, my words will not change your heart. They're just my words. We need to work with the Holy Spirit to come through this morning and to convict us of our sin, to convict us of our need for Jesus Christ, to show us just like this was portrayed this morning, how all of a sudden the gospel message penetrates a heart. And the next thing you know, I gotta have that. I gotta have that. And you have to have that this morning. You've got to have it. Hebrews tells us, for the word of God, the Bible, is living, it's powerful, it's sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature, no person hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him. to whom we must give account. Now that's pretty explicit words. And I'm not trying to get a major word thought in your mind here, but this is what it's saying. It's just like standing before God unclothed. And you're like, well, that's kind of a, I don't like that thought. I don't like it either. But what is he saying? God looks at us this morning, everything is open to him. Before God, we stand, if you will, unclothed. And God looks at us, and he looks at our spirit, and he looks at who we are, and he knows every single thing about you. You say, I don't want God to know everything about me, but he does. And despite those things that you don't want in public today, despite those things you don't want anybody to know about you today, God knows about him. And you know what? He loves you despite of what you and I have done. That's the grace of God. What else the Bible tells us? The Bible says the Apostle Paul said, I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For what? It is the power of God. To what? Salvation, deliverance from our sin. For everyone, ah, here's the operative word. How in the world do we get right with God? How in the world do we get in a right relationship with him? Take a look at that word that starts with a B. Belief. Belief. You say, well, wait a minute, I thought I had to work to get to heaven. Nope. I thought I had to be a good person to get to heaven. Nope. I thought I had to go to church and maybe I could get to heaven. Nope. You say, well, why am I here this morning? Because you're hearing the truth now today from the word of God, we're God's word. Belief, it's not about what you've done, it's about what he did. Right there, folks, what he did, not what I did, not what you do. Bible says also our gospel did not come to you in word only but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much hope. Oops, I think I misread that. Hope is not a plan, but the assurance of the gospel is God's plan. What does the Bible tell us? John chapter 20, God's word. And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book. But these are written, why? That you may, what's the word? Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, say the word, believing you may have what? Life in his name. Now, we're not just talking about physical life. You've already got that. We're talking about eternal life. We're talking about an eternity to be with our Savior, Jesus Christ. That's what he's talking about. Well, you see, I'm trying to get, do my best to get to heaven. I'm doing everything I can to get to heaven. I'm hoping I'm gonna go to heaven someday. And hope is not a plan. Jesus Christ is the one and only plan. And all God's people did say. I mean, that's it, folks. There is no other plan. There isn't any other. It is the only plan. Jesus said, I, Jesus, am the way. Jesus said, I am the truth. Jesus said, I am the life. Emphatic statements Jesus is making. There is no other way. Your good works, the things you've tried to do, religion, all those things, it's not what God said gets you to heaven. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one gets to the Father. In other words, no one goes to heaven except through Christ. Wonderful song. written by a blind person, better known as Fanny Crosby in 1873. Listen to the words. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchased by God. of God, born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. In a few minutes, we're done. I'm going to lay out, not the hope. I'm not gonna lay out something that will give you a false assurance this morning. I'm gonna lay out in these final couple of minutes God's biblical explicit plan for the assurance of heaven. Please listen and we'll be done in a moment. I talked about the Passover lamb several times this morning already. When Jesus came, when Jesus was born, they did with him exactly what you would do with the Old Testament sacrificial lambs that would be slaughtered, if you will, and placed on the altar to cover the sins of the people in the Old Testament. Well, the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ, the lamb of God came, that his blood would be shed, that he would be placed on the cross, that yes, he came as a humble, beautiful little baby, but he grew up to be the sacrificial lamb to pay for our sins. That is why Jesus came. The gospel again, for all have sinned. I'm a sinner, you're a sinner. You say, I don't like hearing that. I don't wanna be called a sinner. I don't like being called one either, but it's a fact of life. We've all done wrong. We've all displeased God. And every single one of us is in a big, big problem with God because we've sinned and fallen short of his glory. and it doesn't get any better. The second part of the gospel, in the four parts, if you will, the Bible tells us that the wages or what we've earned because of our sin is death. In other words, you go to work, you get paid so much money for what you've done. God says because we've sinned. If we got what we deserved, every single one of us would perish. But we're not just talking about physical death. All of us will die someday, barring an event called the rapture, which we won't get into this morning. but some of you are going to face a second death. A second death? The wages of sin is death. That's physical death, but it can also be what's known as spiritual death. Spiritual death is talked about in Revelation chapter 21, verse eight. All those who die without Christ will have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. You say, I don't like that. I don't like it either. And by the way, God doesn't like it. God does not want a single person to go to that place. God doesn't want a single person to experience that second death, if you will, which is eternal separation from God. What do we have to do? Well, we know we're sinners. We know we don't deserve to go to heaven because of our sin. The gospel is the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which we've looked at in 1 Corinthians 15. Why did Jesus do that? Why did God's son come down? Why didn't they do what Isaiah chapter nine, which our prophet Isaiah this morning read to you? Why didn't he come? Why didn't they make him king of kings and lord of lords? Why did Jesus go to the cross? For unto us a son is born. For unto us a son is given. And here's the part that hasn't come to pass yet, it's the prophecy. For unto us a child is born. For unto us a son is given. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Jesus will be coming back to this earth one day. And his kingdom will be set up on this earth. The Bible talks about it in Revelation chapter 20. He didn't come to be king of kings in his first advent. He came to be the sacrificial savior to pay for our sins. That's why he came the first time. He died for our sins, he was buried, he rose the third day. How you get in heaven? I can't believe this, I didn't expect this this morning. I thought we were gonna listen to a couple of children's songs, I'm gonna walk out, have some cookies, and life is good. How about walking out knowing you're going to heaven this morning? How about let's not play church today? How about let's get serious with God? You say, Pastor, do you honestly believe this stuff? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Most of you don't know me that are visitors, of course. I got saved or I received Christ when I was in high school. Some of you say your face looks familiar. Well, I was a sheriff in Milwaukee County. In law enforcement, 32 years in law enforcement. You say, why are you doing this? You don't need to work. You're right, I don't need to work. Why are you here this morning? Why are you proclaiming this message? Because I'm gonna die proclaiming this message. because it's the only thing that'll change our hearts and change our lives because of the resurrection of Jesus, the Christmas assurance. I'm gonna give you a promise and we'll close. Are you ready? Some of you right now, you're hoping, but you're not, you have no assurance. How about let's get the assurance this morning. You say, pastor, if you died right now, are you 100% if you died, you'd go to heaven? Absolutely. And you say, well, you must really think you're somebody. No, I'm not. I'm just a sinner saved by grace. What's grace? Bible says, here's how you get to heaven. For by grace, grace in its original meaning, the Greek means for by grace, it's a free unmerited gift. We don't deserve it, you can't buy it. It's a free gift, for by grace, you have been saved. Saved from sin, saved from the penalty of sin. For by God's grace, you have been saved through what? Faith. Saved through what? Faith, it's faith and faith alone and that not of yourselves. You see, don't miss this. You've been trying and trying and hoping and hoping and trying and trying and hoping and hoping and God says it's not what you do, it's what I did. Then say through faith it's not of yourselves, it's my gift to you, not of your works, listen, any man or person should boast. Listen, right there where we are. Right there where we are. I love the way the little mama, all of a sudden, the gospel, just like is happening in some of your hearts right now, all of a sudden it hit. I can't believe it, I finally heard it. I finally know that I can know for certain, beyond a shadow of a doubt, if I was to die, I can go to heaven. And receiving that free gift by faith in Jesus and Jesus alone, it's the best gift you can get today. Are you ready? Many of you already know this, rejoice and pray. Some of you right now, the gift is being extended to you. And I'm gonna ask you, it's between you and God, I can't make you do it. I can't force you to do it. I'm asking the Holy Spirit to move in your heart right now and to give you the best gift you can possibly get in Christmas, which is eternal life. Every head bowed, every eye closed, Father, I pray now that you do the work that only you can do. I pray, Father, that for those watching, some in this room this morning, they walked in, they had no clue if they died they'd go to heaven. And Father, the last thing we're here to do is deceive anyone or give anyone a false hope. But boy, God, you're in the business of giving folks assurance of salvation and assurance of heaven. If you're here this morning, every head's bowed, every eye closed, would you spend a second thinking about this as we close? Do you understand that you've sinned? You say, I do. Do you understand that because you've sinned, if you died right now, if you got what you deserved, if I got what I deserved, we'd spend eternity in that lake of fire and experience the second death. But Jesus does not want that for you. He wants you to go to heaven and live for eternity with him. You say, well, what do I gotta do? Make it plain. Believe on Jesus this morning. By faith and faith alone, receive that free gift of eternal life. You say, how do I do that? It's by faith. You believe. Do you believe that Jesus Christ, God's son, came down from heaven, died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and three days later rose from the dead? Do you believe that with all your heart? I do. I do. Well then let's just not believe in it. Let's accept it. Let's accept that wonderful gift. Believe by faith right now in Jesus and accept that gift. For by grace are you saved through faith. It is not of yourself. Nothing you can do to get you to heaven except believe on Jesus this very moment. Would you do that right there? Right there where you are, silently. Receive it by faith. Did you do it? Did you put your faith in Jesus this morning for salvation, for eternal life? Say, yes, I did. Well, I'm so happy you did. God's rejoicing right now. That's why Jesus came, to pay for your sin. Your head's bowed, your eyes are closed. I'm gonna say a prayer in just a moment. The prayer's not what takes you to heaven. But I wanna pray just a simple prayer of thanksgiving for those of you that just placed your faith in Jesus and Jesus alone. And it'll help solidify your thanks to God for what he just did in your heart. You can pray silently along with me. Dear God, I know I'm a sinner. I knew that when I walked in this morning or watched the internet this morning. I know that I'm a sinner. And I know, based on the Bible, I don't deserve to go to heaven. But this very moment, I by faith received the free gift of eternal life by placing my faith in what Jesus did for me through his death, burial, and resurrection. Thank you for saving me and giving me the assurance of heaven. when I die. Father, seal decisions this morning, help us to live for you, help us to rejoice in Christmas, help us to walk out of here different than we walked in, knowing that our future, our assurance is with you and all God's people said.