Laughing In the Woods
Luke 2:8-12TPT
Luke 2:8-12TPT That night, in a field near Bethlehem, there were shepherds watching over their flocks. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared in radiant splendor before them, lighting up the field with the blazing glory of God, and the shepherds were terrified! 10 But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid. For I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere! 11 For today in Bethlehem a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah. 12 You will recognize him by this miracle sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough!”
Notice in verse 8…That night, in a field near Bethlehem,…
Many scholars believe that these could be the same fields where sacrificial flocks were kept for temple worship.
Think about it, How fitting that these shepherds would hear the announcement of the birth of the Lamb of God. The Lamb who was slain from the very foundations of the world, Revelation 13:8.
Luke 2:8B…there were shepherds watching over their flocks.
These were just common men—shepherds doing what shepherds do—Protecting their flock.
These shepherds were used to climate change, windy, cold and dark, damp, and rainy nights. Plus, the hot sun by day, with no relieve in sight.
Luke 2:9TM Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified!
This word “Terrified” means exactly that, they were frightened, No one had ever experienced anything like this.!?
Notice, what God’s angel said, Luke 2:10TM “The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide:
The angel announced, “Hey guys y’all are forever part of an eternal joyous event.”
Proverbs 17:22NKJV A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
This angel stated to these shepherds— “I’m going to make you laugh in the woods, or in the fields.” Location makes no difference to God; Serving God is a joyous event! P.H
A German Jog Is No Laughing Matter
By BOB ROHWER APRIL 6, 2006
A judge ordered a German man to stop bursting into laughter in the woods. Joachim Bahrenfeld, an accountant, was taken to court by one of several joggers who say their runs have been disturbed by Bahrenfeld’s deafening squeals of joy. He faced up to six months in jail if he was caught again. Joachim, 56, said he went to the woods to laugh nearly everyday to relieve stress.
“It is part of living for me, he said, ‘like eating, drinking, and breathing.” He felt that a cheerful heart, expressed through hearty laughter, was important to his health and survival.”
Again, Proverbs 17:22TM A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.
Again, A cheerful heart is good medicine!
Philippians 4:4NKJV Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Medical science has proven a happy heart affects our spirit and our physical health.
True trust for the believer, there is a deep abiding joy, for those who trust in the Lord, this trust is based on much more than lightheartedness and circumstances.
This joy is based upon God’s salvation. “Jesus becoming our sacrifice provided forgiveness of sin and a restored relationship with Him.” P.H
It’s true, at Shorter College I took a good class in communication. I ask 7 students to come into class with facial expressions of depression, and gloom. This attitude of depression was quickly noted by all students.
Secondly, I preplanned for 7 more students to leave the class and enter—smiling and laughing. Again, it was noted by the class that the classes atmosphere changed for the good rather quickly.
After these demos, I gave a speech on contrast. Sin verses salvation, light verses darkness. Depression and gloom verses eternal joy!
Luke 2:11-12TPT For today in Bethlehem a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah. 12 You will recognize him by this miracle sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough!”
Just as God chose these shepherds—He chose the Savior of the world (A rescuer) to be born in a feed trough.
Doesn’t it do your heart good to have insight and knowledge that our King can relate! (Hebrews 4:15-16).
In Psalm 126, the children of Israel were living in exile, away from the familiar, a land filled with pagan gods, and all their traditions broken. Finally, Israel would get to go back home, exile was over!
Psalm 126:1-6TM 1-3 It seemed like a dream, too good to be true, when God returned Zion’s exiles. We laughed, we sang, we couldn’t believe our good fortune. We were the talk of the nations—“God was wonderful to them!”
God was wonderful to us; we are one happy people. 4-6 And now, God, do it again—bring rains to our drought-stricken lives so those who planted their crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest, So those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.
If God’s responsible, then God delivers.
God breaks the chains, He destroys your chains. He’s totally responsible for the believers deliverance.
Circumstances cannot shake this deep abiding joy. Joy is an inward work of the Lord, again, it’s not based on what’s happening around us.
For those exiled—Nothing mattered anymore, material things meant nothing, For these shepherds, they had been part of eternity, Hopefully, nothing would be taken for granted anymore.
Psalm 126:1-2TPT It was like a dream come true when you freed us from our bondage and brought us back to Zion! 2 We laughed and laughed and overflowed with gladness.
We were left shouting for joy and singing your praise. All the nations saw it and joined in, saying, “The Lord has done great miracles for them!”
“A dream came true, exile was behind them, they were traveling on the frontside of a miracle!” P.H
Fact is—From the day of your salvation, you’re on the frontside of a miracle!
Psalm 126:3TPT Yes, he did mighty miracles and we are overjoyed!
“One thing for certain as you follow Jesus, He makes you overjoyed!” The old-timers would shout—O’ rapture! P.H
Again, Psalm 126:4TPT Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
The cry from the people—Bring restoration, restore our former glory, O Lord, bring streams of refreshing.
Psalm 126:5-6TPT Those who sow their tears as seeds will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee. 6 They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow, but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness
as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing!
Those things you do for God that cost you something, those uncertain years, months and days. God promised—If you sow seed with tears, you will eventually return from the harvest with blessings!
One more for instants—Israel was being invaded by enemy forces.
The prophet Habakkak spoke profoundly with great confidence.
Habakkuk 3:17-18NLT Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
The prophet depicts the effects of the hostile invasion, which are such as to make the natural heart despair.
The devastations of the enemy leave the country bare and uncultivated. The Chaldeans,
like the Assyrians and Egyptians, cut down and burnt the fruit-bearing trees of the countries which they invaded.
Though everything be empty, Habakkak 3:19TM I’m singing joyful praise to God. I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.
“Today, Jesus offer eternal salvation, He offers eternal joy, a peace which surpasses understanding.”
Philippians 4:6-7TPT Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, 7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.
At times—You’re going to say to yourself “Where did that joy, that peace come from?” But you will know. It’s not of this world. Hallelujah! P.H
Benediction.
