The Announcement of a lifetime
Luke 2:8-15
Luke 2:8-15
Introduction-
The greatest announcement ever made in the history of mankind is “Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you; He is the messiah, the Lord.”
What we do with that information will affect your eternity
It does not change the fact that Jesus the savior was born- only what we do with that truth.
For some it is the announcement of a lifetime (proclamation) and for others it is only (information)
For some, they will respond like the shepherds did let’s go see this thing that has happened, and others, it will be another day.
For you this morning, what do those words mean? There ought to be an excitement that stirs your heart to worship.
Prayer-
Today, Father, in the third week of Advent, may we see Jesus! We rejoice that the glorious angels who announced the great birth of the Christ would save the people from their sins. May we see that it is the Christ child that will change each and every one of our lives forever! May our hearts be open to what you have to say this morning, and may we desire to respond like the shepherds did- “Let’s go see what has just happened.”
We live between Jesus incarnated birth and the glorious second coming of Christ. That is where you and I are today.
We are blessed beyond measure because we have the opportunity to be ready for his return and stand on the promises of Almighty God.
The Old Testament prophets proclaiming the coming of a savior.
Isaiah 9:6-7
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
This verse must be in context- This was a time of darkness and a time where it was the dawning of a great light coming.
The passage speaks of a people who were oppressed and in darkness.
Light was dawning because their yoke of bondage was to be broken by a coming messiah.
Isaiah brings hope but getting the nation to understand and see it was for him challenging.
They were looking for someone to be the mighty one who would set them free from their oppressor (Romans) and the savior that would be coming was to set all free from sin that kills.
His kingdom is like no other.
His reign will not end, and justice and righteousness will follow.
His zeal for mankind will destroy the darkness and bring light.
So the prophet prophesied- there is coming a king! A child will be born unto you that will set the captive free from the sin of mankind. Isaiah prophesied 700 years before it happened.
For mankind hearing those words at that time should have brought anticipation of the coming king! Instead, they were looking for a warrior that would bail them out of their immediate problems.
Does that sound like some people today?
They are looking for a savior that would bail them out of there situations and circumstances but not looking or wanting a savior that can save them from their sins and a savior wanting a relationship with them.
Isaiah 59:1-8 Read
Isaiah 59:15-20 Read
Do we have our listening ears on this morning?
Our lives are a mess without Jesus! (Ball of tangled up Christmas lights)
We are trying to rig up the lights of our own mess and it is not working.
We keep trying to fix it and only Jesus can fix it.
Jesus had to come- We were in need of a savior and there was no other way for our sins to be redeemed.
It is Jesus 101.
We are sinners- Everyone of us. Wither you are a murderer or a good old boy or good old girl- you were born sinners because of the fall of man.
You were not good enough to save yourself and Jesus had to come.
God’s standard of righteousness is”sinless” and none measure up. All fall short of the glory of God!
Most unbelievers believe that if you would only do more good than bad then you will make heaven.
You must balance the scales by doing one more good than bad.
At every funeral I have ever done, there is always someone that says to me that the deceased person was a “good person” and should be in heaven because of it.
The Bible is clear- either you “were” a rebel against God or “you are” a rebel against God. (Repeat)
So back to the original text of the shepherds-
I think it is wonderful that the announcement of God came to the shepherds.
They were despised by most religious people.
They were unable to keep the ceremonial law of hand washings and regulations.(There was no such thing as hand sanitizer)
God spoke to the lowly shepherds to bring the good news to mankind.
THAT THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN SANG SONGS OF PRAISE WITH THE SHEPHERDS AND THEY WERE NOT EVEN ADMITED TO THE TEMPLES BECAUSE OF THE RELIGIOUS RITUALS.
That the shepherds who watched over the sheep would be the first to see the lamb of God.
Announcements are exciting times- (Horn blowing!)
Weddings
A child being born/ Grandchild
New job
Place to live
We send out flyers! Remember and save the dates! Blast it all over social media!
This is how I would have made that announcement of the Christ-child (Being so excited)
“I am so excited to announce that I am happy to tell everyone that I am thrilled to say that it is an honor to let everyone know that I am pleased to be so excited to announce… that the savior of the world has arrived and I am sorry that I cannot stay longer but I must go find where he is staying so that I might also go and worship Him.”
That announcement to the shepherds and all those that could look up to the brilliance of worship that took place in the heavens was two things-
You respond immediately and want to go find the Christ child. You want to go see what God was doing and announcing.
You went on about your day. You were not moved by this great announcement and you will go on with your life.
Today, people on this side of the cross are faced with the same options- Jesus has done all that He is going to do. I’ll explain.
He has already come.
He has already gone to the cross.
He has already been resurrected by God the Father as promised.
He has already ascended to heaven in the Transfiguration with the promise of His return
He has already sent His Holy Spirit to help us walk the walk. Because we cannot do it alone.
He will one day return without any further notice and how many people will dare stand before the Lord and say I didn’t know. It is not fair!
Illustration-
Years ago, we had a van ministry. There was one family that was never ready. No matter how much time I gave them, they were never ready. I could not keep a driver on the van because they were tired of having to wait for this family to get into the van. I thought I could get them moving so I drove the van and went several times to pick them up. The same results. One child at a time and many distractions and it would be a half hour ordeal every Sunday that we went. One Sunday after repeatedly telling them that I could not wait any longer, I sent one child in and said that the van was leaving in two minutes and that everyone was to be in the van. Two minutes went by and I asked the one child in the van to get out and I drove away. Now, no one would blame me for doing that after repeatedly warning the family that this would happen. No one except the mother of the family I was picking up- she thought it terrible that I would leave. She even said that it was un-Christian.
Another time included coming to church with wet hair and a towel around her head, but that is a different story.
God has been giving us warning that His return and His promises will one day come true- We have to be ready and we have to be looking for Him.
Are we watching the times? We are between advent coming (birth) and Advent arrival (return)-
There is so much chaos that most will not be looking and will not be ready for his return.
We are so busy trying to find truth that we would not know it if it hit us in the face- the simple message of Christmas is that a loving God demonstrated His love for us by coming to this world and dying for our sins and desires a relationship with His people.
Your choice- because you want too- not because you have too. Not because you and I deserve it, but simply because He loves us.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
Is that how you love him this morning?
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” is that how you love each other? On these two commandments hang the laws.
Luke 11:33-34
“No one lights a light and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light.”
Be light! Go shine! Let darkness be flooded with light because you have entered into the room.
Christianity and holiness is a journey. It is shown to those we come into contact with. Our lights must shine. Our paths may be different in the journey, but the road needs to lead to Jesus.
Our hope has a name and His name is Jesus! Our light within us must shine Jesus to those we encounter in our lives.
Paint covers and stain goes deep into the grain.
We need less painted Christians and more stained Christians
We need God to be allowed to go deep into our lives and make a difference.
As we close-
What does Christmas mean to you?
Where does Jesus fit into your life?
Illustration-
Story is told of a lady that was in a fancy glass shop looking at the fine vases and cut glass items when she lost her balance and fell into a shelf that caused a chain reaction. The shelf went down and many pieces were broke and badly damaged. The lady immediately went to her knees and was trying to pick up the broken glass and the manager was afraid that she would cut herself. He told her he would clean it up and all the while he was talking, she was trying to clean up and saying that she would pay for all the items that were broken. Finally, he had to stop her, and get her attention… you do not have to clean this up, you do not have to pay for these items. That is what we have insurance for. The overwhelming pressure to fix what is broken. The heaviness of trying to pay for something that is impossible.
Made me think of Jesus- our lives are broken and many pieces are needing to be pick up and repaired or replaced. Jesus assures us that He has redeemed you and wants to fix what is broken- Those that put their trust in him.
Hope has a name and it is Jesus!
May the God of hope fill you to overflowing this morning!
Is there room for Him in your life? When it comes to eternity, there is no room for Russian roulette. There is no promises of tomorrow. The best Christmas present ever given was given by Jesus to each of us. He gave Himself. The gift that keeps on giving!
Take a moment to just say thank you to the Lord for his goodness and grace. Thank you for loving us enough to leave heaven and his kingdom to provide a way for us to join us.
Saying thank you for his presence in our lives- if you cannot sense his presence, be seeking it- look to him to reach out to you- right where you are at and take you where you need to go! Amen.
Prayer-
