Great News for Everyone
Griffith Baptist Church – 12/21/08
A.M. Service
Text: Luke 2:8-14
Key verse: Luke 2:10 - And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Premise: We often talk about the great news of Christ’s birth, but there was more than just a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes that night; much more!
The Introduction
Take the year 1809. The international scene was tumultuous. Napoleon was sweeping through Austria; blood was flowing freely. Nobody then cared about babies. But the world was overlooking some terribly significant births.
For example, William Gladstone was born that year. He was destined to become one of England’s finest statesman. That same year, Alfred Tennyson was born to an obscure minister and his wife. The child would one day greatly affect the literary world in a marked manner.
On the American continent, Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. And not far away in Boston, Edgar Allan Poe began his eventful, albeit tragic, life. It was also in that same year that a physician named Darwin and his wife named their child Charles Robert. And that same year produced the cries of a newborn infant in a rugged log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky. The baby’s name? Abraham Lincoln.
If there had been news broadcasts at that time, I’m certain these words would have been heard: “The destiny of the world is being shaped on an Austrian battlefield today.” But history was actually being shaped in the cradles of England and America. Similarly, everyone thought taxation was the big news—when Jesus was born. But a young Jewish woman cradled the biggest news of all: the birth of the Savior. Adapted from Charles Swindoll – Source unknown
Great news is rarely heard, but when it is, we love to hear it.
When praises are given, we love to hear it
Think of how the shepherds felt, after the initial shock – verse 20
Body
1. He Removes Fear – fear not – 10
A. A little girl was in bed - scared of the dark. She went into her parent’s room and told her mother she was afraid. Her mother said, "It’s OK, sweetheart. There’s nothing to be afraid of, God is in there with you." The little girl went back to her bed and as she climbed into bed she said, "God, if you’re in here, don’t you say a word, you’ll scare me to death." - Charles Lowery, "Falling Isn’t That Bad," {SBC Life, }Sept. 1997, p. 15
B. God makes a habit of removing fear:
i. The only one we are to fear in awe, admiration and respect is God
ii. The type of fear mentioned here is a debilitating fear; they were struck with terror
iii. Other instances of God removing fear from His children:
a. Mary, when told about her selection to bear Christ - Luke 1:30 – And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.
b. When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb - Matthew 28:5 – And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
c. To John on the isle of Patmos - Revelation 1:17-18 - 17And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
C. No more fear of living life
i. Because God is our helper – Hebrews 13:6 - So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
ii. No man can touch your soul – Matthew 10:28 - And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
D. No more living without hope
i. Christ is our hope (1st Tim. 1:1; Col. 1:27)
ii. Biblical hope is a certainty
iii. Because of His resurrection - 1 Peter 1:3 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
iv. Because of His return - Titus 2:13 – Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
2. He Does Not Discriminate – to all people – 10
A. He came to be the Savior of all who will trust in Him (Rom. 1:16)
B. He does not turn away anyone who comes to Him (Jn. 6:37)
C. Whether Jew or Gentile, He loves and wants to save each one – 1 John 2:2- And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (Rom. 3:29)
D. It is His plan from the start - Luke 24:47 – And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Gen. 3:15; Is. 11:10)
3. He Keeps His Promises – For unto you is born this day in the city of David – 11a
A. William Penn, the founder of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, was well liked by the Indians. Once they told him he could have as much of their land as he could encompass on foot in a single day. So, early the next morning he started out and walked until late that night. When he finally went to claim his land, the Indians were greatly surprised, for they really didn’t think he would take them seriously. But they kept their promise and gave him a large area which today is part of the city of Philadelphia. William Penn simply believed what they said. Should we do less with God!
B. In His Work - Isaiah 9:6 – For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
C. In His birth - Micah 5:2 - But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah (house of bread, place of fruitfulness), though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
i. Bethlehem = house of bread – Jesus is the Living Bread - John 6:35 - And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
ii. Ephratah = place of fruitfulness – Jesus produces fruit in and through us - Philippians 1:11 - Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
D. In His presence - Hebrews 13:5 – I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
E. In His forgiveness - 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
F. No doubt, in His coming again - John 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4. He is the Answer to Every Troubled Soul – a Savior, which is Christ the Lord – 11b
A. "In order to realize the worth of the anchor, we need to feel the stress of the storm." --BAPTIST PROGRESS
B. The only true Savior - Matthew 1:21 – And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
C. Light to those in darkness - John 8:12 – Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
D. Life to those who are dead - John 11:25 – Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
E. Deliverer to the bound - Luke 4:18 – The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
F. The only path to peace with God - John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Conclusion:
This is the greatest news that could be shared with the world
Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?
Christian, have you shared this good news like you should?
