December 22, 2024 • 29 mins
In this message, Pastor Chris explores the profound significance of the shepherds’ encounter with Jesus, and how this highlights a powerful truth: acknowledging Christ involves more than just mental acceptance—it's about obedience and transformation. The angelic proclamation declared Jesus as Savior, Christ, and Lord, reminding us of His divine mission to save humanity. We delve into what it means to recognize His lordship and how this acknowledgment calls for a life reflecting His teachings and love.
Finally, we contemplate how God shows up to unexpected people, at unexpected times, in unexpected places. We hope that you have encountered the Christ of Christmas!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Amen.
If you have your Bible whileyou're standing, go to the book
of Luke, chapter 2.
Brother Ron's going to read ourscripture for this morning.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Beginning Luke, chapter 2 with verse 8, the
Christmas story.
And in the same region therewere shepherds out in the field
keeping watch over their flockby night, and an angel of the
Lord appeared to them and theglory of the Lord shone around
them and they were filled withgreat fear.
(00:31):
And the angel said to them Fearnot, for behold, I bring you
good news of great joy that willbe for all the people, for unto
you is born this day, in thecity of David, a Savior who is
Christ the Lord, and this willbe a sign for you.
You will find a baby wrapped inswaddling clothes and lying in
(00:53):
a manger.
And suddenly there was, withthe angel, a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God andsaying Glory to God in the
highest and on earth, peaceamong those with whom he is
pleased.
When the angels went away fromthem into heaven, the shepherds
said to one another Let us goover to Bethlehem and see this
(01:16):
thing that has happened, whichthe Lord has made known to us.
They went with haste and foundMary and Joseph and the baby
lying in a manger, and when theysaw it, they made known the
saying that had been told themconcerning this child, and all
who heard it wondered at whatthe shepherds told them.
But Mary treasured up all thesethings and pondered them in her
(01:37):
heart and the shepherdsreturned glorifying and praising
God for all they had heard andseen, as it had been told them.
This is the word of the Lord,amen.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Well, peace be with you.
Friends, none of my liturgicalpeople are going to say in with
you, matthew, where?
Where you at All?
Right?
Well, on December the 25thevery year, we celebrate the
(02:22):
birth of Christ, but not thebirthday of Christ.
Some of you look a littleconfused right now.
Let me say it again On Decemberthe 25th every year, we
celebrate the birth of Christ,but not the birthday of Christ,
and that's an importantdistinction, because actually we
(02:44):
do not know when you know theexact day of Jesus' birth as a
matter of fact.
Interestingly, many scholars say, if anything, it's doubtful,
possible, but doubtful, that hewas even born in December.
I don't know what that does toyour Christmas, but listen, the
(03:05):
Bible doesn't give us a date.
And do you know that?
There are a lot of things aboutthe Christmas story the Bible
doesn't tell us, like it tellsus what's most important about
how Christ came and what hismission was, but it leaves out a
lot of details that our ofteninquisitive minds want to know.
For instance, we know thatJesus was born in a manger, yes,
(03:29):
but we don't know that thatmanger was in a stable or in a
barn.
Now, you might assume that, butyou've got to go back and look
at first century history.
Scholars tell us that it'shighly likely that this manger
was inside a home Because in thefirst century most of the
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houses would have a large roomwith troughs in them.
It would be inside their home,it would be adjacent to the main
living area and they had thosespaces so that at night they
could bring the animals in forwarmth and protection.
So most scholars believe thatthey were actually staying, mary
(04:12):
and Joseph, in a home.
We don't know how many wise menvisited Jesus.
We assume that there were three, because there were three gifts
gold, frankincense and myrrh.
But I'm sure many of you, likeme, have cheap friends who say,
hey, can I just put my name onthe card, like you bought the
(04:33):
gift, right?
So you know, you had that cheapwise man, right?
Hey, I forgot to get something.
You know frankincense guy,write my name on the card, kind
of thing.
The Bible doesn't specify thatMary rode into Bethhlehem on the
donkey.
For all we know she walked.
It doesn't specify that therewere other animals in, like the
(04:53):
nativity scene, right, like wealways portray.
Maybe, maybe not.
What do I tell you all of this?
The fact that the bible leavesout some of those details that
we maybe wish were in there,reminds us that what is most
important about the Christmasstory is not that we know every
(05:16):
single detail.
Look at me.
What is most important is thatwe know and encounter the Christ
of Christmas.
That's what I want for each ofyou today and I know we've had a
lot go on already service alittle bit longer today but I
would just say to you it'simportant that you listen,
(05:38):
because knowledge of theChristmas story won't save you,
it won't transform your life.
You may say, sure, I believe inall this, well, great.
But if you don't encounter theChrist of Christmas, you will
not be saved, your life will notbe changed.
And so we find in our textthese shepherds out watching
(06:05):
their flock by night, who do notonly hear about the Christmas
story, but they run to thatchild in a manger and they
encounter that first Christmasnight the Lord Jesus Christ.
So may we learn from them.
Today In our text, you havethis angel who appears.
(06:29):
Are you guys hot?
I see some of you fanning.
Is it warm in here?
Lots of bodies in here.
Okay, if you start fallingasleep, I'm going to make it
frigid.
I'm just going to tell you hey,if it gets warm, just jump up
there.
They look a little sleepy, sowake them up, hunter.
(06:50):
So in our text, this angelbrings an announcement to these
shepherds of the birth of thisbaby, and they call it good news
of not just some joy, but whatGreat joy.
Now, any birth announcement isgood news generally.
Like you know, I just had alittle grandbaby.
(07:11):
I'm telling you that was goodnews of great joy for my family.
Now, many of you got excitedabout that too, but my point is
this that in a regular birththere is great joy generally for
that particular family.
But the angel declares this isgood news of great joy for who?
(07:36):
All peoples, every race, tribeand tongue.
This birth announcement is goodnews of great joy.
And then the angel tells us why, tells the shepherds why, for
unto you verse 11, is born thisday in the city of David, a
Savior who is Christ, the LordBeloved.
(07:59):
This was no ordinary baby, Iknow you know this, but the
angel says to the shephershepherd that this child is a
Savior.
He's a Savior.
Now, what's so interesting thereis that in the Old Testament it
was God who was described asSavior.
You go especially to the bookof Isaiah and the book of Psalms
(08:22):
and many other places in theOld Testament, and God is called
the Savior of His people.
In Isaiah 43, 11, the Lord saysI am the Lord and besides me,
hear me.
There is no other Savior.
And yet the angel of the Lordcalls Jesus Christ a Savior of
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God's people, which affirms thatthis is not just the Son of God
, this is God, the Son lying inthe manger.
He is fully man, fully God, andhe came with a mission, matthew
121 tells us to save his peoplefrom their sins.
(09:07):
That's why he came.
That's why it's good news ofgreat joy, because that's what
you and I need more thananything.
He calls him the Christ, and,by the way, christ is not Jesus'
last name Surprise some of you.
Right, no, christ is amessianic title.
(09:28):
That means anointed one.
In the Old Testament it can betranslated Messiah and Israel,
for hundreds of years, had beenwaiting on this great king
deliverer, this prophet, priestand king, on this great king
deliverer, this prophet, priestand king, the one according to
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Isaiah 53, who would come andbear the sins of his people,
rescue his people, deliver hispeople.
And so the angel of the Lordcomes, and then with a host of
angels, an army of angels, saysit's good news, of great joy for
all people, because this is theChrist that you've been waiting
on.
And then, finally, he callsthis baby.
(10:12):
The angel calls the baby Lord.
It's a title of authority andpower.
You know, the most fundamentalconfession of the Christian
faith is that Jesus is what Lord.
See, lots of people want him asSavior, but a lot of people
(10:34):
reject him as Lord, even thoughthey might say the actual words
with their mouth.
Because to say that Jesus isLord and believe it is to obey
him.
And yet some of you thismorning, you're saying, oh yeah,
he's Lord, but you're livingyour life as if he's not, and
that's a dangerous thing.
That's why one of the mostsobering passages in the Bible
(10:55):
is in Matthew, where Jesus saysmany will say to me on that day,
lord, lord, and He'll say turnfrom you.
I never knew you.
I came with a message thismorning to tell somebody to
repent today, because he's notjust come to be Savior, he's
come to be Lord.
My point in all of this isreminding you of the
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proclamation of the angels.
It's simply that this message,this baby in a manger, demands a
response Like you put yourselfin the shoes of a first century
Israelite and you hear aboutthis angelic proclamation that
unto you, in the city of David,is born the Savior Christ, who
is Lord.
(11:37):
You don't just go, oh man,that's cool, that's neat.
No, this would rock your world.
And it evoked a lot ofdifferent responses in the Bible
, this announcement of the birthof a king in the Bible, this
announcement of the birth of aking, and so I want to look at a
(11:59):
few of those responses veryquickly, and I want to start by
going outside of the book ofLuke to the book of Matthew, and
I'll just read for you Matthew,chapter 2, verses 1 through 3.
Now, after Jesus was born inBethlehem of Judea, in the days
of Herod the king, behold, wisemen from the east came to
Jerusalem saying when is he whohas been born king of the Jews?
(12:23):
For we saw his star when itrose and we have come to worship
him.
Understand the wise men.
They're talking to the king andthey're saying Where's this
king that was born?
We want to worship him.
Understand the wise men.
They're talking to the king andthey're saying Where's this
king that was born?
We want to worship him.
And when Herod the king heardthis, the scripture says he was
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troubled, and all of Jerusalemwith him.
This was Herod the great, bythe way.
He was the appointed king ofJudea, jerusalem, under the
authority of Rome.
And he was troubled why?
Because if Jesus is Lord, thatmeans Herod is not.
If Jesus is Lord, that meansCaesar is not.
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And Herod was so threatened, asa matter of fact that probably
know the story he had every malechild, two years old and under,
executed in the greaterBethlehem region.
Jesus, mary and Joseph, ofcourse, fled to Egypt.
That's how threatened he was.
Why?
(13:28):
Because he didn't want to giveup his kingship to a greater
authority.
Isn't that the story of theGarden of Eden, adam and Eve?
Why did they sin?
Because they didn't want to getup his kingship to a greater
authority.
Isn't that the story of theGarden of Eden, adam and Eve?
Why did they sin?
Because they didn't want to getoff the throne and obey God.
You say well, what's that haveto do with us today?
I just would say to you it haseverything to do with you,
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because some of you again,you're threatened by the Lord,
Jesus Christ, not as Savior, butas Lord, because if Jesus is in
charge of your life, that meansyou're not.
I'll just say that's not aneasy thing to relinquish,
because everything within uswants to call the shots, but if
Jesus is Lord, that means wedon't get to be Lord of our
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lives anymore.
And some of you again, man, Ijust feel the Holy Spirit today
just prophetically saying thatsome of you today you're still
on the throne of your life.
You need to not just call onHim as Savior, but you need to
get off the throne and say Lord,I give my life to you, I give
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my life to you, you're in charge.
John 1, 11 and 12, john said hecame to His own and His own
people didn't receive Him.
But to all who did receive Him,what's that mean?
It's to receive Him as Lord.
To all who did receive Him hegave the right to become
children of God.
It's a great, glorious truth.
(14:54):
So that's King Herod.
Let's consider.
I'm going to skip the shepherdsand come back to them.
Let's talk about Mary for asecond.
In verse 16, it says and theywent with haste and found Mary
(15:18):
and the baby lying in a manger,and when they saw it, they made
known the saying that had beentold to them concerning this
child, and all who heard itwondered at what the shepherds
told them.
And listen to this.
But Mary treasured up all thesethings, pondering them in her
heart.
Think about that, if you notice.
(15:38):
There are other people in thestory who heard the same
proclamation of the good news ofthe gospel and the birth of
Christ and they were amazed byit.
But Mary, she wasn't just likeoh man, this is great, what did
she do?
She took the message of Christand she pondered it in her heart
(15:59):
.
And they were amazed by it.
But Mary, she wasn't just likeoh man, this is great, what did
she do?
She took the message of Christand she pondered it in her heart
.
She treasured it.
That's what it is to receiveChrist.
It's to treasure Him above allthings, amen.
It is to take the message andto treasure it in your heart.
How many of you grew up or maybeyou do this now with your
children?
You read the Christmas story,like on Christmas Day or
Christmas Eve, anybody, okay, sothat's a good thing to do.
(16:25):
So, growing up, we had a rule.
We opened our presents with myimmediate family on Christmas
Eve, but we had a rule before wecould open presents.
You know what we had to do Readthe Christmas story.
And so, as a child, I complied.
But the whole time I wasreading the story I was thinking
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about what's in that box andman, I just wanted to get
through it.
And you know, maybe that's howyou approach devotions, you know
it's just to check off a boxand you're thinking about what
you've got to do next.
But you know what?
The Christmas story that we'veheard over and over and over.
Here's what I hope for youtoday that you saw it
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demonstrated in the play we sangabout the Christmas story and
you're hearing the text thismorning from God's word.
I hope you'll treasure it inyour heart, like Mary.
That's a great response to thismessage.
But I want to finally talk aboutthe shepherds.
Talk about the shepherds.
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The shepherds respondwonderfully to the news.
I mean, imagine this you're ashepherd and you're in the field
and all of a sudden the gloryof the Lord appears and an angel
right, and they're scared todeath, like some of you are.
Like you pray for theseencounters with God and they're
great, but, man, it's scary.
It's scary.
(17:54):
I mean you read throughout theBible these encounters with
angels and the throne room ofGod Isaiah just came undone in
chapter 6 of his book.
But I want you to notice howthe shepherds respond.
Look at verses 15 through 17.
When the angels went away fromthem into heaven, the shepherds
said to one another let us goover to Bethlehem and see the
(18:16):
thing that happened, which theLord has made known to us.
So we heard it, but I want tosee it for myself.
Listen to what the text says.
And they went with what.
They went with haste and foundMary and Joseph and the baby
lying in a manger, and when theysaw it, they made known the
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saying that had been told tothem concerning the child.
Here's what I want you to gleanfrom this If God is calling you,
if you feel something in yourheart today, don't wait to
respond.
If you feel something in yourheart today, don't wait to
respond.
Don't wait to respond.
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I love that the shepherds.
I mean it's work for them, likeit's the work hour, right,
these are blue collar workersand they're on the clock and
they don't say you know what?
I get off in a few hours andwe'll go.
Then you know what, I promisedso and so I'd do this.
Or you know I haven't eaten,we'll go, then you know what I
promised so-and-so I'd do this.
Or you know, I haven't eatenyet, so I'm going to grab some
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food and then, you know, ifChick-fil-A's open, it'd be
great and we'll stop and getsomething to eat and then we'll
eventually make our way there.
No, they went with haste.
They went with haste.
And you know, there are peoplewho I've talked to.
They say oh, pastor, one dayI'm going to get my life right.
One day I'm going to get mylife right with God.
Who told you you'd get tomorrow?
First of all, and let me askyou this If the Christmas story
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is true and I believe it is ifit is good news of great joy,
why would you want to waitanyways?
If it is good news of great joy, why would you want to wait
anyways?
Because what you're saying ismy sin is more pleasurable than
the truth.
Really, listen, if I were togive you a check this morning
(20:14):
for $1 million or more, whatever, I hand you a check for $1
million, I promise you, I don'tcare how busy your week was, you
would find a way to get thatmoney in your bank this week.
You're not going to say youknow what Busy season of life
right now, sowing my oats.
I'm going to put it in.
I'm not real responsible withmoney.
Yet One day, few months, fewyears, I'm going to put that
money in.
No, you get that check in thebank tomorrow, as soon as it
(20:36):
opens.
You'd be there, man.
It'd be like you might camp outthere tonight.
And yet today you've got agreater invitation.
You've got something worth morethan all the money in the world
, worth more than all the moneyin the world.
And yet you'll say, oh, one dayI'll put the money in the world
.
And yet you'll say, oh, one dayI'll put the money in the bank.
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One day I'll respond, oh, I'vecome with an urgent message
today to say this is the day ofsalvation.
Don't wait.
The shepherds then share thegood news, verse 17,.
When they saw it, they madeknown the saying that had been
told to them.
Beloved, we have a mandate.
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There are people out thereright now, on this street, in
this neighborhood, throughoutRichmond and Kentucky and the
United States and throughout theworld, that are still walking
in darkness because they don'tknow, as Isaiah said, that a
light has dawned, that a lighthas dawned upon the darkness.
They are hopeless and they needhope, and so I'll just leave
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that there, to say today thatyou and I need to share the
message of Christ, the messageof Christmas, with those who are
in darkness, and that's whatI'm trying to do today.
Finally, they glorify andpraise God, and the shepherds
said verse 20,.
The shepherds returnedglorifying and praise God, and
the shepherds said verse 20,.
The shepherds returnedglorifying and praising God for
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all they had heard and seen andhad been told to them.
You know, why do we sing?
Why sing?
The joy of the Lord is mystrength.
Why sing joy to the world andall the songs that we sang this
morning?
Why take time and do that?
Because if God is who he sayshe is and Jesus is who he says
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he is and the spirit is present,the only logical response Is to
praise him with everything wehave.
I don't care what you've beenthrough this week, he's still
worthy to be praised.
And the joy of the Lord isstill your strength.
The psalmist said it like thishe said I will bless the Lord is
still your strength.
The psalmist said it like thishe said I will bless the Lord.
Sometimes he said I will blessthe Lord.
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What All times, his praiseshall what Continually be in my
mouth, beloved.
That's why we sing, that's whywe gather, that's why we praise
him, because we have receivedgood news of great joy A savior
has come, and that savior livedthe perfect life, and that
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savior gave his life for you,and that savior hallelujah is
risen and, even better, thatsavior is coming again to
consummate his kingdom.
So, in closing, I think we canlearn something from the
shepherds.
I hope that you have respondedlike that, and I was thinking
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about this theme, and here'swhat I want you to remember.
Think about this God, listen tome.
God shows up to unexpectedpeople at unexpected times, in
unexpected places.
That's what we see here.
God shows up.
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Shake your head if you'relistening to me, because this is
important.
God shows up to unexpectedpeople at unexpected times, in
unexpected places.
Think about this the angelcould have shown, and then the
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host of angels could have shownup to anybody, and you would
think, man.
Who would they show up to toannounce the birth?
Well, surely the religiousleaders?
Surely the preacher, the priest, the prophet, or at least
somebody who has some clout.
But instead, who did the angelshow up to with this
(24:32):
proclamation?
Shepherds, blue-collar workers,smelly in the field dealing
with sheep, unexpected people.
Isn't that just like the Lord,that he comes to the humble and
the lowly of heart?
Shepherds were consideredextremely insignificant in that
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culture.
But God shows up to unexpectedpeople and if you're here today
and you think, well, he wouldnever call me to an encounter
with him.
You don't know what I've doneor where I've been.
God shows up to unexpectedpeople.
I believe he's going to show upto somebody that didn't expect
it today.
God shows up in unexpectedplaces at unexpected times.
(25:21):
This is again.
This is not in the temple, it'sin a field and it's night shift
.
Any night shift workers in here.
God bless you.
He shows up in a field at night.
I love a country song by anartist, larry Fleet.
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That's where I found God.
Anybody familiar with that song?
When this comes up on YouTubeit's, by the way, not perfect
theology, but I hear the heartbehind it.
I want to read you some of thewords.
The night I hit rock bottomsitting on an old bar stool.
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He paid my tab and put me in acab, but he didn't have to, but
he could see I was hurting.
Oh, I wish I'd got his namebecause I didn't feel worth
saving, but he saved me just thesame.
The day out, on the water, whenthe fish just wouldn't bite, I
put my pole down, I floatedaround.
It was just so quiet and Icould hear my old man saying son
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, just be still, because youcan't find peace like this in a
bottle or a pill, and I love thechorus From a bar stool to that
ebb and rude Sunday morning ina church pew, in a deer stand or
a hay field, an interstate backto Nashville, a Chevrolet with
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the windows down, me and himjust riding around.
Sometimes, listen, whether I'mlooking for him or not.
That's where I found God.
I could go through testimonyafter testimony.
I'm thinking right now of twopeople who are in this church
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One a little bit older,middle-aged, one younger One an
atheist One, someone who wasrunning from the Lord.
I was praying for both theseyoung men and both of them, in
their home, were brought totheir knees by the power of the
Holy Spirit and looked up to Godand said and they came to me
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and said that's where I foundGod.
And, by the way, it's not somuch that's where they found God
, it's that's where God foundthem.
It's that's where God foundthem.
It's the message of Christmas.
So this message is prophetic ina sense today because, I'll
just be honest with you I hadanother message planned up until
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Thursday.
It's been a busy week.
I'm responsible for all theChristmas music, getting the
Christmas Eve service together.
We just had the banquet and Iwas sad and happy with what I
was going to preach and Istarted reading Luke 2, and the
Lord just wouldn't relent.
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I felt like the Spirit wastelling me to preach this text
and I saw it in a new light.
And I got to this part aboutGod shows up to unexpected
people in unexpected places atunexpected times.
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And the Lord reminded me thatthere would be people here today
that maybe you just came to seea kid perform.
Maybe a lot of people just cometo church Christmas and Easter
and if that's you man, I'm gladyou're here.
Maybe this is just what you doon Sundays and you're just kind
of going through the motions,but maybe you never expected To
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encounter Jesus today Like this.
But I Worked Friday andSaturday on this message and
most of Thursday Becausesomebody here needs an encounter
Heard from the Holy Spirit.
I strongly believe that therewere nominal name name-only
Christians.
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You've confessed Jesus asSavior, but you're not living
for Him as Lord, and today isyour day of repentance.
Look at me today.
Today is the day of repentance.
Some of you, you've never knownthe Lord and there's just an
(29:44):
invitation for you today.
There's an invitation for youtoday, it's time to come to the
Lord Jesus.
Amen.
If you have your Bible whileyou're standing, go to the book
of Luke, chapter 2.
Brother Ron's going to read ourscripture for this morning.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Beginning Luke, chapter 2 with verse 8, the
Christmas story.
And in the same region therewere shepherds out in the field
keeping watch over their flockby night, and an angel of the
Lord appeared to them and theglory of the Lord shone around
them and they were filled withgreat fear.
(00:31):
And the angel said to them Fearnot, for behold, I bring you
good news of great joy that willbe for all the people, for unto
you is born this day, in thecity of David, a Savior who is
Christ the Lord, and this willbe a sign for you.
You will find a baby wrapped inswaddling clothes and lying in
(00:53):
a manger.
And suddenly there was, withthe angel, a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God andsaying Glory to God in the
highest and on earth, peaceamong those with whom he is
pleased.
When the angels went away fromthem into heaven, the shepherds
said to one another Let us goover to Bethlehem and see this
(01:16):
thing that has happened, whichthe Lord has made known to us.
They went with haste and foundMary and Joseph and the baby
lying in a manger, and when theysaw it, they made known the
saying that had been told themconcerning this child, and all
who heard it wondered at whatthe shepherds told them.
But Mary treasured up all thesethings and pondered them in her
(01:37):
heart and the shepherdsreturned glorifying and praising
God for all they had heard andseen, as it had been told them.
This is the word of the Lord,amen.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Well, peace be with you.
Friends, none of my liturgicalpeople are going to say in with
you, matthew, where?
Where you at All?
Right?
Well, on December the 25thevery year, we celebrate the
(02:22):
birth of Christ, but not thebirthday of Christ.
Some of you look a littleconfused right now.
Let me say it again On Decemberthe 25th every year, we
celebrate the birth of Christ,but not the birthday of Christ,
and that's an importantdistinction, because actually we
(02:44):
do not know when you know theexact day of Jesus' birth as a
matter of fact.
Interestingly, many scholars say, if anything, it's doubtful,
possible, but doubtful, that hewas even born in December.
I don't know what that does toyour Christmas, but listen, the
(03:05):
Bible doesn't give us a date.
And do you know that?
There are a lot of things aboutthe Christmas story the Bible
doesn't tell us, like it tellsus what's most important about
how Christ came and what hismission was, but it leaves out a
lot of details that our ofteninquisitive minds want to know.
For instance, we know thatJesus was born in a manger, yes,
(03:29):
but we don't know that thatmanger was in a stable or in a
barn.
Now, you might assume that, butyou've got to go back and look
at first century history.
Scholars tell us that it'shighly likely that this manger
was inside a home Because in thefirst century most of the
(03:51):
houses would have a large roomwith troughs in them.
It would be inside their home,it would be adjacent to the main
living area and they had thosespaces so that at night they
could bring the animals in forwarmth and protection.
So most scholars believe thatthey were actually staying, mary
(04:12):
and Joseph, in a home.
We don't know how many wise menvisited Jesus.
We assume that there were three, because there were three gifts
gold, frankincense and myrrh.
But I'm sure many of you, likeme, have cheap friends who say,
hey, can I just put my name onthe card, like you bought the
(04:33):
gift, right?
So you know, you had that cheapwise man, right?
Hey, I forgot to get something.
You know frankincense guy,write my name on the card, kind
of thing.
The Bible doesn't specify thatMary rode into Bethhlehem on the
donkey.
For all we know she walked.
It doesn't specify that therewere other animals in, like the
(04:53):
nativity scene, right, like wealways portray.
Maybe, maybe not.
What do I tell you all of this?
The fact that the bible leavesout some of those details that
we maybe wish were in there,reminds us that what is most
important about the Christmasstory is not that we know every
(05:16):
single detail.
Look at me.
What is most important is thatwe know and encounter the Christ
of Christmas.
That's what I want for each ofyou today and I know we've had a
lot go on already service alittle bit longer today but I
would just say to you it'simportant that you listen,
(05:38):
because knowledge of theChristmas story won't save you,
it won't transform your life.
You may say, sure, I believe inall this, well, great.
But if you don't encounter theChrist of Christmas, you will
not be saved, your life will notbe changed.
And so we find in our textthese shepherds out watching
(06:05):
their flock by night, who do notonly hear about the Christmas
story, but they run to thatchild in a manger and they
encounter that first Christmasnight the Lord Jesus Christ.
So may we learn from them.
Today In our text, you havethis angel who appears.
(06:29):
Are you guys hot?
I see some of you fanning.
Is it warm in here?
Lots of bodies in here.
Okay, if you start fallingasleep, I'm going to make it
frigid.
I'm just going to tell you hey,if it gets warm, just jump up
there.
They look a little sleepy, sowake them up, hunter.
(06:50):
So in our text, this angelbrings an announcement to these
shepherds of the birth of thisbaby, and they call it good news
of not just some joy, but whatGreat joy.
Now, any birth announcement isgood news generally.
Like you know, I just had alittle grandbaby.
(07:11):
I'm telling you that was goodnews of great joy for my family.
Now, many of you got excitedabout that too, but my point is
this that in a regular birththere is great joy generally for
that particular family.
But the angel declares this isgood news of great joy for who?
(07:36):
All peoples, every race, tribeand tongue.
This birth announcement is goodnews of great joy.
And then the angel tells us why, tells the shepherds why, for
unto you verse 11, is born thisday in the city of David, a
Savior who is Christ, the LordBeloved.
(07:59):
This was no ordinary baby, Iknow you know this, but the
angel says to the shephershepherd that this child is a
Savior.
He's a Savior.
Now, what's so interesting thereis that in the Old Testament it
was God who was described asSavior.
You go especially to the bookof Isaiah and the book of Psalms
(08:22):
and many other places in theOld Testament, and God is called
the Savior of His people.
In Isaiah 43, 11, the Lord saysI am the Lord and besides me,
hear me.
There is no other Savior.
And yet the angel of the Lordcalls Jesus Christ a Savior of
(08:44):
God's people, which affirms thatthis is not just the Son of God
, this is God, the Son lying inthe manger.
He is fully man, fully God, andhe came with a mission, matthew
121 tells us to save his peoplefrom their sins.
(09:07):
That's why he came.
That's why it's good news ofgreat joy, because that's what
you and I need more thananything.
He calls him the Christ, and,by the way, christ is not Jesus'
last name Surprise some of you.
Right, no, christ is amessianic title.
(09:28):
That means anointed one.
In the Old Testament it can betranslated Messiah and Israel,
for hundreds of years, had beenwaiting on this great king
deliverer, this prophet, priestand king, on this great king
deliverer, this prophet, priestand king, the one according to
(09:49):
Isaiah 53, who would come andbear the sins of his people,
rescue his people, deliver hispeople.
And so the angel of the Lordcomes, and then with a host of
angels, an army of angels, saysit's good news, of great joy for
all people, because this is theChrist that you've been waiting
on.
And then, finally, he callsthis baby.
(10:12):
The angel calls the baby Lord.
It's a title of authority andpower.
You know, the most fundamentalconfession of the Christian
faith is that Jesus is what Lord.
See, lots of people want him asSavior, but a lot of people
(10:34):
reject him as Lord, even thoughthey might say the actual words
with their mouth.
Because to say that Jesus isLord and believe it is to obey
him.
And yet some of you thismorning, you're saying, oh yeah,
he's Lord, but you're livingyour life as if he's not, and
that's a dangerous thing.
That's why one of the mostsobering passages in the Bible
(10:55):
is in Matthew, where Jesus saysmany will say to me on that day,
lord, lord, and He'll say turnfrom you.
I never knew you.
I came with a message thismorning to tell somebody to
repent today, because he's notjust come to be Savior, he's
come to be Lord.
My point in all of this isreminding you of the
(11:17):
proclamation of the angels.
It's simply that this message,this baby in a manger, demands a
response Like you put yourselfin the shoes of a first century
Israelite and you hear aboutthis angelic proclamation that
unto you, in the city of David,is born the Savior Christ, who
is Lord.
(11:37):
You don't just go, oh man,that's cool, that's neat.
No, this would rock your world.
And it evoked a lot ofdifferent responses in the Bible
, this announcement of the birthof a king in the Bible, this
announcement of the birth of aking, and so I want to look at a
(11:59):
few of those responses veryquickly, and I want to start by
going outside of the book ofLuke to the book of Matthew, and
I'll just read for you Matthew,chapter 2, verses 1 through 3.
Now, after Jesus was born inBethlehem of Judea, in the days
of Herod the king, behold, wisemen from the east came to
Jerusalem saying when is he whohas been born king of the Jews?
(12:23):
For we saw his star when itrose and we have come to worship
him.
Understand the wise men.
They're talking to the king andthey're saying Where's this
king that was born?
We want to worship him.
Understand the wise men.
They're talking to the king andthey're saying Where's this
king that was born?
We want to worship him.
And when Herod the king heardthis, the scripture says he was
(12:43):
troubled, and all of Jerusalemwith him.
This was Herod the great, bythe way.
He was the appointed king ofJudea, jerusalem, under the
authority of Rome.
And he was troubled why?
Because if Jesus is Lord, thatmeans Herod is not.
If Jesus is Lord, that meansCaesar is not.
(13:07):
And Herod was so threatened, asa matter of fact that probably
know the story he had every malechild, two years old and under,
executed in the greaterBethlehem region.
Jesus, mary and Joseph, ofcourse, fled to Egypt.
That's how threatened he was.
Why?
(13:28):
Because he didn't want to giveup his kingship to a greater
authority.
Isn't that the story of theGarden of Eden, adam and Eve?
Why did they sin?
Because they didn't want to getup his kingship to a greater
authority.
Isn't that the story of theGarden of Eden, adam and Eve?
Why did they sin?
Because they didn't want to getoff the throne and obey God.
You say well, what's that haveto do with us today?
I just would say to you it haseverything to do with you,
(13:51):
because some of you again,you're threatened by the Lord,
Jesus Christ, not as Savior, butas Lord, because if Jesus is in
charge of your life, that meansyou're not.
I'll just say that's not aneasy thing to relinquish,
because everything within uswants to call the shots, but if
Jesus is Lord, that means wedon't get to be Lord of our
(14:12):
lives anymore.
And some of you again, man, Ijust feel the Holy Spirit today
just prophetically saying thatsome of you today you're still
on the throne of your life.
You need to not just call onHim as Savior, but you need to
get off the throne and say Lord,I give my life to you, I give
(14:32):
my life to you, you're in charge.
John 1, 11 and 12, john said hecame to His own and His own
people didn't receive Him.
But to all who did receive Him,what's that mean?
It's to receive Him as Lord.
To all who did receive Him hegave the right to become
children of God.
It's a great, glorious truth.
(14:54):
So that's King Herod.
Let's consider.
I'm going to skip the shepherdsand come back to them.
Let's talk about Mary for asecond.
In verse 16, it says and theywent with haste and found Mary
(15:18):
and the baby lying in a manger,and when they saw it, they made
known the saying that had beentold to them concerning this
child, and all who heard itwondered at what the shepherds
told them.
And listen to this.
But Mary treasured up all thesethings, pondering them in her
heart.
Think about that, if you notice.
(15:38):
There are other people in thestory who heard the same
proclamation of the good news ofthe gospel and the birth of
Christ and they were amazed byit.
But Mary, she wasn't just likeoh man, this is great, what did
she do?
She took the message of Christand she pondered it in her heart
(15:59):
.
And they were amazed by it.
But Mary, she wasn't just likeoh man, this is great, what did
she do?
She took the message of Christand she pondered it in her heart
.
She treasured it.
That's what it is to receiveChrist.
It's to treasure Him above allthings, amen.
It is to take the message andto treasure it in your heart.
How many of you grew up or maybeyou do this now with your
children?
You read the Christmas story,like on Christmas Day or
Christmas Eve, anybody, okay, sothat's a good thing to do.
(16:25):
So, growing up, we had a rule.
We opened our presents with myimmediate family on Christmas
Eve, but we had a rule before wecould open presents.
You know what we had to do Readthe Christmas story.
And so, as a child, I complied.
But the whole time I wasreading the story I was thinking
(16:47):
about what's in that box andman, I just wanted to get
through it.
And you know, maybe that's howyou approach devotions, you know
it's just to check off a boxand you're thinking about what
you've got to do next.
But you know what?
The Christmas story that we'veheard over and over and over.
Here's what I hope for youtoday that you saw it
(17:07):
demonstrated in the play we sangabout the Christmas story and
you're hearing the text thismorning from God's word.
I hope you'll treasure it inyour heart, like Mary.
That's a great response to thismessage.
But I want to finally talk aboutthe shepherds.
Talk about the shepherds.
(17:33):
The shepherds respondwonderfully to the news.
I mean, imagine this you're ashepherd and you're in the field
and all of a sudden the gloryof the Lord appears and an angel
right, and they're scared todeath, like some of you are.
Like you pray for theseencounters with God and they're
great, but, man, it's scary.
It's scary.
(17:54):
I mean you read throughout theBible these encounters with
angels and the throne room ofGod Isaiah just came undone in
chapter 6 of his book.
But I want you to notice howthe shepherds respond.
Look at verses 15 through 17.
When the angels went away fromthem into heaven, the shepherds
said to one another let us goover to Bethlehem and see the
(18:16):
thing that happened, which theLord has made known to us.
So we heard it, but I want tosee it for myself.
Listen to what the text says.
And they went with what.
They went with haste and foundMary and Joseph and the baby
lying in a manger, and when theysaw it, they made known the
(18:37):
saying that had been told tothem concerning the child.
Here's what I want you to gleanfrom this If God is calling you,
if you feel something in yourheart today, don't wait to
respond.
If you feel something in yourheart today, don't wait to
respond.
Don't wait to respond.
(18:58):
I love that the shepherds.
I mean it's work for them, likeit's the work hour, right,
these are blue collar workersand they're on the clock and
they don't say you know what?
I get off in a few hours andwe'll go.
Then you know what, I promisedso and so I'd do this.
Or you know I haven't eaten,we'll go, then you know what I
promised so-and-so I'd do this.
Or you know, I haven't eatenyet, so I'm going to grab some
(19:22):
food and then, you know, ifChick-fil-A's open, it'd be
great and we'll stop and getsomething to eat and then we'll
eventually make our way there.
No, they went with haste.
They went with haste.
And you know, there are peoplewho I've talked to.
They say oh, pastor, one dayI'm going to get my life right.
One day I'm going to get mylife right with God.
Who told you you'd get tomorrow?
First of all, and let me askyou this If the Christmas story
(19:47):
is true and I believe it is ifit is good news of great joy,
why would you want to waitanyways?
If it is good news of great joy, why would you want to wait
anyways?
Because what you're saying ismy sin is more pleasurable than
the truth.
Really, listen, if I were togive you a check this morning
(20:14):
for $1 million or more, whatever, I hand you a check for $1
million, I promise you, I don'tcare how busy your week was, you
would find a way to get thatmoney in your bank this week.
You're not going to say youknow what Busy season of life
right now, sowing my oats.
I'm going to put it in.
I'm not real responsible withmoney.
Yet One day, few months, fewyears, I'm going to put that
money in.
No, you get that check in thebank tomorrow, as soon as it
(20:36):
opens.
You'd be there, man.
It'd be like you might camp outthere tonight.
And yet today you've got agreater invitation.
You've got something worth morethan all the money in the world
, worth more than all the moneyin the world.
And yet you'll say, oh, one dayI'll put the money in the world
.
And yet you'll say, oh, one dayI'll put the money in the bank.
(20:57):
One day I'll respond, oh, I'vecome with an urgent message
today to say this is the day ofsalvation.
Don't wait.
The shepherds then share thegood news, verse 17,.
When they saw it, they madeknown the saying that had been
told to them.
Beloved, we have a mandate.
(21:20):
There are people out thereright now, on this street, in
this neighborhood, throughoutRichmond and Kentucky and the
United States and throughout theworld, that are still walking
in darkness because they don'tknow, as Isaiah said, that a
light has dawned, that a lighthas dawned upon the darkness.
They are hopeless and they needhope, and so I'll just leave
(21:44):
that there, to say today thatyou and I need to share the
message of Christ, the messageof Christmas, with those who are
in darkness, and that's whatI'm trying to do today.
Finally, they glorify andpraise God, and the shepherds
said verse 20,.
The shepherds returnedglorifying and praise God, and
the shepherds said verse 20,.
The shepherds returnedglorifying and praising God for
(22:04):
all they had heard and seen andhad been told to them.
You know, why do we sing?
Why sing?
The joy of the Lord is mystrength.
Why sing joy to the world andall the songs that we sang this
morning?
Why take time and do that?
Because if God is who he sayshe is and Jesus is who he says
(22:25):
he is and the spirit is present,the only logical response Is to
praise him with everything wehave.
I don't care what you've beenthrough this week, he's still
worthy to be praised.
And the joy of the Lord isstill your strength.
The psalmist said it like thishe said I will bless the Lord is
still your strength.
The psalmist said it like thishe said I will bless the Lord.
Sometimes he said I will blessthe Lord.
(22:46):
What All times, his praiseshall what Continually be in my
mouth, beloved.
That's why we sing, that's whywe gather, that's why we praise
him, because we have receivedgood news of great joy A savior
has come, and that savior livedthe perfect life, and that
(23:08):
savior gave his life for you,and that savior hallelujah is
risen and, even better, thatsavior is coming again to
consummate his kingdom.
So, in closing, I think we canlearn something from the
shepherds.
I hope that you have respondedlike that, and I was thinking
(23:30):
about this theme, and here'swhat I want you to remember.
Think about this God, listen tome.
God shows up to unexpectedpeople at unexpected times, in
unexpected places.
That's what we see here.
God shows up.
(23:51):
Shake your head if you'relistening to me, because this is
important.
God shows up to unexpectedpeople at unexpected times, in
unexpected places.
Think about this the angelcould have shown, and then the
(24:12):
host of angels could have shownup to anybody, and you would
think, man.
Who would they show up to toannounce the birth?
Well, surely the religiousleaders?
Surely the preacher, the priest, the prophet, or at least
somebody who has some clout.
But instead, who did the angelshow up to with this
(24:32):
proclamation?
Shepherds, blue-collar workers,smelly in the field dealing
with sheep, unexpected people.
Isn't that just like the Lord,that he comes to the humble and
the lowly of heart?
Shepherds were consideredextremely insignificant in that
(24:55):
culture.
But God shows up to unexpectedpeople and if you're here today
and you think, well, he wouldnever call me to an encounter
with him.
You don't know what I've doneor where I've been.
God shows up to unexpectedpeople.
I believe he's going to show upto somebody that didn't expect
it today.
God shows up in unexpectedplaces at unexpected times.
(25:21):
This is again.
This is not in the temple, it'sin a field and it's night shift
.
Any night shift workers in here.
God bless you.
He shows up in a field at night.
I love a country song by anartist, larry Fleet.
(25:43):
That's where I found God.
Anybody familiar with that song?
When this comes up on YouTubeit's, by the way, not perfect
theology, but I hear the heartbehind it.
I want to read you some of thewords.
The night I hit rock bottomsitting on an old bar stool.
(26:04):
He paid my tab and put me in acab, but he didn't have to, but
he could see I was hurting.
Oh, I wish I'd got his namebecause I didn't feel worth
saving, but he saved me just thesame.
The day out, on the water, whenthe fish just wouldn't bite, I
put my pole down, I floatedaround.
It was just so quiet and Icould hear my old man saying son
(26:27):
, just be still, because youcan't find peace like this in a
bottle or a pill, and I love thechorus From a bar stool to that
ebb and rude Sunday morning ina church pew, in a deer stand or
a hay field, an interstate backto Nashville, a Chevrolet with
(26:49):
the windows down, me and himjust riding around.
Sometimes, listen, whether I'mlooking for him or not.
That's where I found God.
I could go through testimonyafter testimony.
I'm thinking right now of twopeople who are in this church
(27:12):
One a little bit older,middle-aged, one younger One an
atheist One, someone who wasrunning from the Lord.
I was praying for both theseyoung men and both of them, in
their home, were brought totheir knees by the power of the
Holy Spirit and looked up to Godand said and they came to me
(27:35):
and said that's where I foundGod.
And, by the way, it's not somuch that's where they found God
, it's that's where God foundthem.
It's that's where God foundthem.
It's the message of Christmas.
So this message is prophetic ina sense today because, I'll
just be honest with you I hadanother message planned up until
(27:56):
Thursday.
It's been a busy week.
I'm responsible for all theChristmas music, getting the
Christmas Eve service together.
We just had the banquet and Iwas sad and happy with what I
was going to preach and Istarted reading Luke 2, and the
Lord just wouldn't relent.
(28:18):
I felt like the Spirit wastelling me to preach this text
and I saw it in a new light.
And I got to this part aboutGod shows up to unexpected
people in unexpected places atunexpected times.
(28:39):
And the Lord reminded me thatthere would be people here today
that maybe you just came to seea kid perform.
Maybe a lot of people just cometo church Christmas and Easter
and if that's you man, I'm gladyou're here.
Maybe this is just what you doon Sundays and you're just kind
of going through the motions,but maybe you never expected To
(29:02):
encounter Jesus today Like this.
But I Worked Friday andSaturday on this message and
most of Thursday Becausesomebody here needs an encounter
Heard from the Holy Spirit.
I strongly believe that therewere nominal name name-only
Christians.
(29:23):
You've confessed Jesus asSavior, but you're not living
for Him as Lord, and today isyour day of repentance.
Look at me today.
Today is the day of repentance.
Some of you, you've never knownthe Lord and there's just an
(29:44):
invitation for you today.
There's an invitation for youtoday, it's time to come to the
Lord Jesus.
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