The Shepherds’ Jubilee Series

The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2:1-20 1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to their own town to register. 4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

INTRODUCTION

What is your state of mind as we near the end of this year? Maybe some of you are pretty caught up with your work, paying back your loans, raising your children, caring for an invalid parent and nothing out of the ordinary seem to be happening. You may feel, “Well Christmas will come and go but I do not find anything interesting, my life is the same, my sorrows are always with me, I’m struggling and there is no jubilee in my life.”

Today we are going to see how we can be jubilant in our lives in the midst of our circumstances. How to experience joy in the midst of sorrows?

Luke 2:8-10 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

The first announcement of Jesus’ birth went to some shepherds. The only invitation from God to anyone to come and visit Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus was to a group of shepherds. Shepherds were at the opposite end of the social hierarchy. They were common, ordinary people who lived in the fields with their animals, they weren’t respected, they had no power or prestige, yet these shepherds were given importance by God.

1. You Are Important to God

God knows you. Somebody say, “I’m precious to God.”

No matter how insignificant you may think you are; God knows you, & you are important to Him.

1 Corinthians 1:26-28 26Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28God chose the lowly things of this world.

God chooses the lowly and despised to show His power to the wise. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, rejected by his employer, and put in prison but God chose Joseph to advise Pharaoh.

When God decided to select a mother for His Son, He went past the Romans and the Herods. He went past the rich and the influential to an insignificant village called Nazareth. He found a godly girl. She did not dress in the best clothes, neither did she have a great education, nor did she have gold or silver, but she was pure, and God selected her to be the mother of His only begotten Son.