The Voices of Christmas
Part V – The Angels – the Voice of God
Sermon – Sunday, December 24th 2006
A few weeks ago I mentioned how the world has perverted what angels really are. There is no reason to be confused about angels. Scripture speaks more about angels than it does demons or the devil.
It is amazing how much people will create when we have the authoritative source.
MATTHEW 1:18-23
THIS IS HOW THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST CAME ABOUT: HIS MOTHER MARY WAS PLEDGED TO BE MARRIED TO JOSEPH, BUT BEFORE THEY CAME TOGETHER, SHE WAS FOUND TO BE WITH CHILD THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT. 19 BECAUSE JOSEPH HER HUSBAND WAS A RIGHTEOUS MAN AND DID NOT WANT TO EXPOSE HER TO PUBLIC DISGRACE, HE HAD IN MIND TO DIVORCE HER QUIETLY. 20 BUT AFTER HE HAD CONSIDERED THIS, AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO HIM IN A DREAM AND SAID, "JOSEPH SON OF DAVID, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO TAKE MARY HOME AS YOUR WIFE, BECAUSE WHAT IS CONCEIVED IN HER IS FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT. 21 SHE WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, AND YOU ARE TO GIVE HIM THE NAME JESUS, BECAUSE HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS." 22 ALL THIS TOOK PLACE TO FULFILL WHAT THE LORD HAD SAID THROUGH THE PROPHET: 23 "THE VIRGIN WILL BE WITH CHILD AND WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, AND THEY WILL CALL HIM IMMANUEL"-WHICH MEANS, "GOD WITH US."
LUKE 2:8-14
THERE WERE SHEPHERDS LIVING OUT IN THE FIELDS NEARBY, KEEPING WATCH OVER THEIR FLOCKS AT NIGHT. 9 AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO THEM, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHONE AROUND THEM, AND THEY WERE TERRIFIED. 10 BUT THE ANGEL SAID TO THEM, "DO NOT BE AFRAID. I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY THAT WILL BE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE. 11 TODAY IN THE TOWN OF DAVID A SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN TO YOU; HE IS CHRIST THE LORD. 12 THIS WILL BE A SIGN TO YOU: YOU WILL FIND A BABY WRAPPED IN CLOTHS AND LYING IN A MANGER." 13 SUDDENLY A GREAT COMPANY OF THE HEAVENLY HOST APPEARED WITH THE ANGEL, PRAISING GOD AND SAYING, 14 "GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE TO MEN ON WHOM HIS FAVOR RESTS."
The Angels were sent by God to tell Joseph about...
1. THE NAME—
MATTHEW 1:21
YOU ARE TO GIVE HIM THE NAME JESUS, BECAUSE HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.
The name ‘Jesus’ was a common name during this time. It is literally translated Joshua.
Never again would the name ‘Jesus’ be common. God had just made it an uncommon name.
EPHESIANS 1:21
NOW HE IS FAR ABOVE ANY RULER OR AUTHORITY OR POWER OR LEADER OR ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS WORLD OR IN THE WORLD TO COME.
Jesus may have come into the world in humility – and throughout His ministry He would demonstrate this humility.
He would also demonstrate His power over the kingdom of the enemy.
1 John 3:8b
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
He came to destroy sin!
He had no cornfields or fisheries, but He could spread a table for five thousand and have bread and fish to spare. He walked on no beautiful carpets or velvet rugs, but He walked on the waters of the Sea of Galilee and they supported Him.
When He died, few men mourned. But a black crepe was hung over the sun. Though men trembled not for their sins, the earth beneath them shook under the load. All nature honored Him. Sinners alone rejected Him. Corruption could not get hold of His body. The soil that had been reddened with His blood could not claim His dust.
He wrote no book, built no church house. But after nineteen hundred years, He is the one central character of human history, the pivot around which the events of the ages revolve, and the only Regenerator for the Human Race.
Was He merely the Son of Joseph and Mary, who crossed the world’s horizon nineteen hundred years ago. Was it merely human blood that was spilled at Calvary’s Hill for the redemption of sinners? What thinking man can keep from exclaiming: “My Lord and My God!”
—Author Unknown
PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11
THEREFORE GOD EXALTED HIM TO THE HIGHEST PLACE
AND GAVE HIM THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME,
10 THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW,
IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH,
11 AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD,
TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
God also sent the angels to bring...
2. The News—
LUKE 2:10B
I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY THAT WILL BE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE.
Think about it: “The real truth is that while Christ came to preach the gospel, His chief object in coming was that there might be a gospel to preach.”
This was truly news that deserved the herald of the angelic host. This was Good News of Great Joy that will be for all people – and it still is!
The same good news that was preached 2000 years ago is the same good news today and it still brings great joy! And it is still for all people.
ACTS 8:4-8
THOSE WHO HAD BEEN SCATTERED PREACHED THE WORD WHEREVER THEY WENT. 5 PHILIP WENT DOWN TO A CITY IN SAMARIA AND PROCLAIMED THE CHRIST THERE. 6 WHEN THE CROWDS HEARD PHILIP AND SAW THE MIRACULOUS SIGNS HE DID, THEY ALL PAID CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT HE SAID. 7 WITH SHRIEKS, EVIL SPIRITS CAME OUT OF MANY, AND MANY PARALYTICS AND CRIPPLES WERE HEALED. 8 SO THERE WAS GREAT JOY IN THAT CITY.
They had received the good news – there was great joy.
When we receive the Good News there will be Great Joy
Not to be confused with happiness.
Happiness has to do with what is happening – joy is the fruit of the Spirit.
GALATIANS 5:22-23
BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, 23GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL.
Christianity is a very personal religion. (“I”...“I”...“I”; “I have sinned and I have been saved.”) Belief in Christ is a personal thing.
A sinner needs a Saviour—not a teacher or encourager, or perfect Guide to teach to do better next time.
Once after a missionary trip, we decided to swim on a mountain lake. Not knowing how to swim, but in the excitement of the hour, I jumped in.
Yelling and calling for help that day, I did not need a teacher showing me how to swim or a lecturer on my foolishness. What I desperately needed was a saviour who, without saying a word, would jump in and save me.
If you were that person…good news! Great joy!
Rom 10:13-15
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
God sent His Angels to be His voice about…
The Name
The News
