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LK 2v8-12
1. They carried & revealed the Glory of God; No where in Bible do we read the “The Glory of the Lord IS…….” As no clear cut definition can be found, yet mention of the Glory of God can be found all over the Bible.
People seemed to know what it was and where it was. When God appeared in Fire & Cloud and filled the Tabernacle with his glory, Moses didn’t say what this? (Exo 15, 40)
Some times the Glory of God is better felt than telt. The Glory of God is the presence of His perfect nature.
So is possible to feel perfect JOY, LOVE, PEACE in a place because the presence of the Lord is there.
Glory of God Sometimes came with the visible signs, here with angels, and the pillar of cloud and fire.
Some times we go all mystic about the glory of the Lord, making it unreachable and unobtainable.
We sometimes speak of the Shekinah glory, shekinah means to dwell, to be present.
God chose and kept asking to shekinah with his people, in a Tabernacle, Ark Temple
Jesus is the shekinah of God John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[a] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
That Glory of God we sometimes make unreachable is in you and with you, Jn 17:22 Jesus "And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one."
You Carry the Glory of God, Jesus clearly promised he would never leave you, when we are together in his name, he is always there.
The big question and message here is Do we Reveal the Glory of God that Jesus has given to us? Do we carry the Joy, Love, Peace of the Lord?
2. They carried & revealed the Good news; The Shepherds understandably were filled with fear, how would you cope if in the office a big glowing angel appeared?
We live in a world where people are fearful. Depression, anxiety and mental illnesses are forever increasing.
Quote from Anne Landers: agony ant “ I’ve learned plenty, including most importantly what Leo Rostea had in mind when he said, “Each of us is a little lonely, deep inside and longs to be understood.” I have learned how it is with the stumbling tortured people in this world who have nobody to talk to. The fact that the column has been so successful underscores, for me at least, the central tragedy of our society. The disconnectedness, the insecurity, the fear - that bedevils, cripples, and paralyses so many of us. I have learned that financial success, academic achievement, and social or political status open no doors to peace of mind or inner security. We are all wanderers, like sheep, on this planet.”
Commissioned to carry Good News, There is nothing better than Good News, We carry the greatest news.
Do we share it? Why do so many not share it? Many excuses don’t know enough, get laughed at, Be easy if we could turn up with a be glow around us like the angels and maybe scare people into heaven, we have a Big Message to share. Bottom line why don’t share, we don’t care enough.
3. They Revealed where Jesus Could be Found;
More and More we can’t talk about Jesus, take Christ out of Christmas, no trees…. Happy holidays, seasons greetings, can talk freely about Jewish Hanukah, Muslim Ramadan but No School nativity, no carol at winter festival,
ILL You Tube Videos………….. took Jesus our of pop Idol Got Him put back cause Christians Spoke out. Wining a battle like that is good, but quickly forgotten.
I believe More & More need a Gospel of signs and wonders. Because they don’t happen dose not mean we stop believing, looking stepping out for signs and wonders to follow the Word of God .
Angels said Jesus would be in a Manger this was sign to them. No sign just like other babies. No signs and wonders Jesus not like other gods.
Glory of God brings not just love joy…….. but a demonstration of the power of God thought us His People, Jesus promised this John 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
But the discples clearly did get what Jesus was saying when he rebuke them for their lack of faith MK 6:14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. 15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
But NOW THEY HAVE GOT IT, Acts 2:43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
Acts 4:30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
Acts 5:12The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.
Acts 6:8Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.
Acts 14:3So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.
Acts 15:12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
Hebrews 2:4God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
HAVE WE GOT IT
