2010 Christmas Series (Dec 19, 2010)
Sermon 4 – Sheppard and Angels' Rejoicing
Luke 2:1-15
Introduction
- Obvious question: “What is Advent?”
- The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival."
- Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God.
- Over the past few weeks we have examined several very important topics:
- The joy of Mary’s heart and soul as she worshipped what God was doing in her
- The prophecy surrounding John the Baptist’s birth; focus on Zechariah
- Last week we explored the prophecy of Jesus’ birth being foretold
- IMP: Mary’s response: Luke 1:38, “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”
-- The importance to note is that OUR response must be the same
-- When God calls us to move, we need to be obedient and move
- This morning, we continue our Advent series with the Announcement of His birth
Stand and read Luke 2:1:15 / Pray
Point 1 – The Angels Appear to the Lowest (v8-10)
- I want to stress here the importance of this entire sequence of events
- Last week we discussed Mary’s lineage from the Tribe of Judah
-- Psalm 132:11 “The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.”
-- Matt 1:11-12 says Joseph, was from David, but an descended from Jechonias
- IMP: Thus, the lineage of the perfect birth was from Mary’s side of the family
-- Keeping those in mind, let’s proceed with the text from this morning
- Joseph was living in Nazareth at the time, with a pregnant wife but was originally from Bethlehem, thus he took his family to complete the census.
- On Wednesday we talked a bit about God’s Word NEVER getting old …
- But, what was the prophecy of where Jesus will be born?
-- In about 750 B.C, a prophet named Micah proclaimed in Ch. 5 vs. 2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
- Did you know that God used Caesar to fulfill His prophecy?
- In the same way, He uses us (when we obey – Luke 1:38) to do His work also
- APP: When God’s prophecies are fulfilled right before your eyes, how can you NOT get a little excited! How can it not make you want to GO and TELL?
- So in a manger, in a place where animals ate, our Lord was laid to rest
- In my mind I imagine that the animals were in awe, praising His arrival
-- And … why not? Why would they not be rejoicing?
- APP: Jesus taught in Luke 19:40 about worship in the presence of the Messiah – he said (when the Pharisees asked Him to silence the disciples), “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
-- DEEPER: So, what about us? Will we shout for joy that He has been born?
-- Will we rejoice with the angels and PROCLAIM the GLORY given to us?
- Notice, that the announcement of His arrival was not on CNN, Fox, MSNBC
- God sent an angel to proclaim to societies lowest … men living in fields!
- Re-read verse 8-10 (BOLDLY AND WITH MUCH EMPHASIS)
- These men, who lived amongst the animals in the fields, got the breaking news
- They are the first to hear the Gospel preached from Heaven, much like many of us may have heard and some may be hearing it for the first time
- These men tending the animals, probably very cold from the elements, maybe hopeless and without a future, are given the greatest news that has ever been given
- And what are they told in response? “DO NOT BE AFRAID!!”
- APP: Church, if God’s angels told them to not be afraid, how can we afraid?
- If God’s angles would tell shepherds in a field DO NOT BE AFRAID …
- (LOOK UP AT ME): How can we be ashamed, afraid, worried, or anything about proclaiming the Gospel to a lost world around us?
- TRANS: Look at the impact of this GLORIOUS announcement that was made
Point 2 – A Glorious Announcement (v11-15)
Re-Read verse 11-14 (WITH EMPHASIS)
- As the angel is proclaiming that the Savior has been born, look what happens … Suddenly, out of nowhere … ALL OF HEAVEN JOINS IN!!
- Verses 13-14 say, “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
- Think for a moment, where have we heard that kind of worship before?
- Go to Isa 6:2-4, “Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.”
- Is this reference too far back? Then let’s jump ahead in time …
- Go to Rev 4:8-11, “Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
- Do you know why the angels, and all of Heaven, praise Him in this manner?
- Here it is – here is the summation of the entire series: BECAUSE HE IS GOD
- APP: It is the understanding of God’s glory by all of creation that cries out
- APP: The angels could no longer be silent when the Good News was proclaimed
- TRANS: So, right now in this place, where does this leave us?
Point 3 (Conclusion) – Have you gone to seek Him out? (v15)
- Re-read verse 15
- These men, these shepherds in the fields, needed NO additional convincing
- They heard from Heaven and they responded by leaving everything to go see
- Church, what are we waiting for? What signs do you need for convincing?
- How about this:
- It is estimated that 6.2 Billion people have died since the year 1900
- Today, there are estimated to be 6.8 Billion people alive on the Earth
- How many of those need Jesus? The answer is: Every single one of them!
- When the shepherds went to seek Him out, they needed a Savior
- When we hear the Gospel preached, it is because we needed a Savior also
- This morning, we have heard the Good News – will we seek Him out?
- But … How many people are you willing to share the Good News with?
- What better time than Christmas to rejoice at who our God IS????
- Pray
-- Salvation
-- Repentance
-- Restoration
