Sermon Title: The Reality of Christmas - The Terrified Shepherds became the first evangelists to the world.What’s your excuse?
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Away from the main scene centred around the birth of Jesus, were the 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 absolutely terrified.
10 But the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12)
Why were they so terrified?
Apart from the intimidating sight of the heavenly being, the shepherds believed that they were going to die.
At the moment the angel of the Lord appeared to them, they thought that God’s judgement has finally come upon them, and that they were going to die helplessly and hopelessly - all because they was sinners in God’s sight.
Who were these shepherds?
In the days of Christ – known as the Greco-Roman World - they were an highly unpopular and unliked group of people; and considered social and religious outcasts, homeless and thieves.
After all, they were “living out in the fields.”
Nothing good was ever said of them.
Nobody wanted them in their backyards.
Their jobs were both tedious and dangerous; and they spent their entire lives taking care of other people’s sheep.
As they were considered unclean by the Jews, they were not allowed to participate in temple worship - along with any religious celebrations with the rest of Israel.
What that meant was that they had little to no chance of offering any form of sacrifice to God for the atonement, or forgiveness, of their sins.
In their own minds, they considered themselves helpless and hopeless; devoid of any possibility that they might somehow be saved by God, and experience His Grace and Mercy.
This highly unpopular group of social outcasts had one of the lowest status in Jewish society; and they most likely felt completely condemned to the wrath of God in this life, and the life to come.
And yet, God ordained them to be the first group of people to hear about the Good News of the birth of His Son.
This is very significant – for such is the love of God and the amazing reach of His Gospel.
Just before the shepherds witnessed the glory of the Lord shining around them, they were cloaked in darkness - apart from whatever night lights afforded them from the sky above.
On a dark night - away from the city lights - the shepherds whose souls who were consumed in the darkness of condemnation, suddenly found themselves draped with the glory of God that shone all around them.
The very sight of the angel before saying anything would have represented a terrible sign to the shepherds.
Understand that this angel would not have looked like anything in human form.
The shepherds’ hearts would have been gripped with the darkest dread - with death and damnation their only thought.
But when the angel essential said to them, “Do not be afraid; you are not going to die. In fact, you are going to be saved unto glorious, eternal life - a life that is completely different and infinitely better than the life you are living now!”; the shepherds were elevated from the deepest depths of despair to the highest heights of heavenly joy – thus experiencing the ultimate emotional differential; sealing their hearts forever in the light of God’s glory and resting their souls forever in the Grace and Mercy of God.
The shepherds were beyond relief; they were ecstatic with joy – having experienced God’s Grace and Mercy firsthand.
It’s like getting pulled over by the police for speeding, and whilst anticipating a hefty fine and demerit points, you receive only a warning note – but a billion times more!
It was evident that the shepherds experienced an infinitely huge emotional differential – one so immense that even after the angel left them, plunging them once again into a physical darkness, their hearts remained lit by the glory of God, and led to share the Gospel to the world. (Ref: Luke 2:15)
Indeed, God so loved the world - that none is ever unacceptable, unloved or undeserving of His Good News of Salvation.
The shepherds became the first true recipients of the Good News.
They were so excited.
Not only were they saved from the brink of death, they were now at the very peak of all human experiences – a shot at salvation unto eternal life; if only they somehow got connected with this Saviour.
This Good News truly brought them great joy!
And great joy is God’s divine evidence of those who have truly received the Good News of the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ – what is it?
When you think about Christ, are you filled with great joy?
The true effect of the Gospel is great joy.
If you have wholeheartedly received Jesus Christ as your Saviour - your deliverer and redeemer from the bondages and wages of sin - and as your Lord and King over all, every emotion and endeavour that fills your existence is energized by the great joy of knowing that you are in a personal relationship with Him.
You would be full of amazement, awe and excitement by the Gospel and Grace of God; filled to the brim with an insatiable gratitude to the Lord for having rescued you from the depths of hell; into His glorious light.
You would be filled with the unquenchable passion and heavenly power to live for Christ alone.
I pray that this divine condition of ‘great joy’ speaks to your situation; especially in your moments of despair that you would rest in the reality that God has already saved you!
The devil cannot touch you; sin cannot mar you, death cannot hold you.
You have already been given the gift of eternal life through Christ, Your Saviour!
Are you excited, energised and empowered by the Gospel and for the Gospel?
Are you still so amazed by the Grace of God?
Do you still have this great joy of knowing Christ the Saviour and Lord personally?
Great JOY!
That is the true effect of the Gospel and the hallmark of every born again Christian.
And the devil is terrified of us when we have great joy that comes from the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!
Till that day, the shepherds led a pathetic existence.
But at that moment, having believed the Gospel, they were experiencing the very peak of human experience – great joy!
If even the shepherds could experience such a transformation in opening their hearts to the ultimate emotional differential – in immense gratitude to the Lord ... … what is your excuse?
Do you think that your life can possibly be worse off than the shepherds?
If the shepherds could be touched by the Lord and transformed by the Gospel, we have no excuse not to be transformed; unless, we do not believe.
The shepherds simply understood and cherished the infinite preciousness and value of the Gospel.
They were radically transformed because they were awestruck by God’s Glory and amazed by His Grace.
God’s Grace gripped them in unbridled amazement.
Does the grace of God still amaze you?
It must!
Accept this divine invitation to believe in Christ and follow Him… and do so, with great joy!
The Good News is a divine, yet simple, invitation to experience the goodness of God; it is not a coercion or compulsion out of anxiety or need to control another person.
Such was the invitation of the angel, and not an instruction for the shepherds to verify the prophecy – to receive the Lord and Saviour that the prophecy speaks of.
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly 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.”
15 When 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.
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:11-20)
Even though returned to the darkness of the world, the shepherds remained empowered by the great joy from receiving the Gospel – along with heavenly Peace to those on whom God’s favor rests.
Nothing, or no one, could stop them – for God’s favor rested upon them.
The light of the Gospel was resonating loudly in their hearts and minds – a Saviour had come to rescue them from the bondage of sin and redeem them from their broken and dark life of sin unto an eternal life of great joy and peace!
They didn’t go to meet God in His temple to receive this gift, God came to them in their circumstance; God entered their lives.
Although they were plunged back into darkness, they remained in the light of God.
They knew the true worth of God’s Salvation; and cherished the Grace of God!
They were overwhelmingly amazed by God’s Grace and Glory.
Remember that the first angel did not command them to check out the veracity of the ancient prophecy regarding the Christ-child; the shepherd decided on their own volition to go to Bethlehem to see the Messiah with their own eyes.
The shepherds decided that they must somehow get into a relationship with Christ their Saviour; so they followed Him all the way to Bethlehem..
Why?
Because they were amazed by God’s Grace! Passionate, excited, and they were unreserved in their expression of being amazed by God’s Grace.
It was so profound that they couldn’t keep it in… they had to proclaim His Salvation!
Can you remember where you were, and who was it that God sent to you to announce His Salvation through our Lord Jesus and invite you to find and follow Christ the Messiah - the Saviour who saved you from the bondages and wages of sin?
Think about it.
You are so beloved and precious in God’s sight that He specially sent that person to share His Gospel with you.
This person must have been so amazed by the Grace of God; and must have known the preciousness and infinite worth of the Grace of God that he or she put all inhibitions aside to share the gospel with you.
You must now be thinking, “but that person was more knowledgeable, more qualified, or perhaps, more gifted than me... ...”
Is that going to be your excuse?
Do you think that God’s condition for an evangelist is theological training?
Do you think that status, knowledge, or training qualified the shepherds to become the first evangelists in the world?
Amazed by the Grace of God
The only quality – not qualification – that the shepherds had was that they were thoroughly amazed by the Grace of God; which led them – on their volition - to look for Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.
The amazement experienced by the Shepherds was literally an extremely heart-stopping kind of amazement; that they had spread that amazement to all who heard them.
The shepherds – who were social and religious outcast, deemed as supremely unqualified to do any work of God – were the first evangelists to the world.
What is your excuse?
Recognize that you have been saved from death and damnation unto eternal life and blessings.
Recognize that you are called to a life of great joy and peace, made possible only by your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Be radically transformed unto Christ’s likeness by simply being awestruck by God’s glory.
Experience the ultimate emotional differential that comes from acknowledging how much you need Salvation of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This Christmas, be gripped in unbridled amazement of the grace of God.
Come again to the most precious saving knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour; and may the Holy Spirit touch your heart to the realization of the infinite and immense preciousness of God’s Grace.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord, you ordained the shepherds to be first to hear and share Your Gospel – and revealed Your immense love and infinite reach of Your Salvation.
Though we live in the darkness of this world, thank You for draping Your children with Your glory; and filling our lives with Your glorious light.
In Christ, You have elevated me from the deepest depths of hopelessness to the highest heights of heavenly joy and peace.
Grant that I would daily experience this ultimate emotional differential – living in eternal gratitude for Your Salvation over me.
Holy Spirit, seal my heart forever in the light of God’s glory; and rest my soul forever in the Grace and Mercy of God.
Grant that I may daily experience Your Grace, Mercy and Love firsthand; that my heart would forever be lit by Your Glory and led to readily share Your Gospel to the people in my life.
And fill me with great joy and peace – having truly received the Good News of Salvation through Christ and living in personal relationship with my Saviour.
Bless me with the unquenchable passion and Spirit’s Power to live for Christ alone.
May I be radically transformed – as did the shepherds - by the infinite preciousness and the priceless value of the Gospel.
Lord, I acknowledge that I have absolutely no excuse NOT to live for Christ alone and be resolutely passionate about sharing the Gospel.
Enliven and transform my heart, O Lord – that I would always be awestruck by Your Glory and amazed by Your Grace.
Lord Jesus, I receive Your divine invitation to follow You all the days of my life; empower me with great joy to live as Your witness – and bless me with heavenly peace in the divine revelation that God’s favor rests upon me.
Holy Spirit, bind me in the love of God, and in unbridled amazement of His Grace.
May I be restored to the most precious saving knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour; and to the realization of the infinite and immense preciousness of God’s Grace.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Away from the main scene centred around the birth of Jesus, were the 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 absolutely terrified.
10 But the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12)
Why were they so terrified?
Apart from the intimidating sight of the heavenly being, the shepherds believed that they were going to die.
At the moment the angel of the Lord appeared to them, they thought that God’s judgement has finally come upon them, and that they were going to die helplessly and hopelessly - all because they was sinners in God’s sight.
Who were these shepherds?
In the days of Christ – known as the Greco-Roman World - they were an highly unpopular and unliked group of people; and considered social and religious outcasts, homeless and thieves.
After all, they were “living out in the fields.”
Nothing good was ever said of them.
Nobody wanted them in their backyards.
Their jobs were both tedious and dangerous; and they spent their entire lives taking care of other people’s sheep.
As they were considered unclean by the Jews, they were not allowed to participate in temple worship - along with any religious celebrations with the rest of Israel.
What that meant was that they had little to no chance of offering any form of sacrifice to God for the atonement, or forgiveness, of their sins.
In their own minds, they considered themselves helpless and hopeless; devoid of any possibility that they might somehow be saved by God, and experience His Grace and Mercy.
This highly unpopular group of social outcasts had one of the lowest status in Jewish society; and they most likely felt completely condemned to the wrath of God in this life, and the life to come.
And yet, God ordained them to be the first group of people to hear about the Good News of the birth of His Son.
This is very significant – for such is the love of God and the amazing reach of His Gospel.
Just before the shepherds witnessed the glory of the Lord shining around them, they were cloaked in darkness - apart from whatever night lights afforded them from the sky above.
On a dark night - away from the city lights - the shepherds whose souls who were consumed in the darkness of condemnation, suddenly found themselves draped with the glory of God that shone all around them.
The very sight of the angel before saying anything would have represented a terrible sign to the shepherds.
Understand that this angel would not have looked like anything in human form.
The shepherds’ hearts would have been gripped with the darkest dread - with death and damnation their only thought.
But when the angel essential said to them, “Do not be afraid; you are not going to die. In fact, you are going to be saved unto glorious, eternal life - a life that is completely different and infinitely better than the life you are living now!”; the shepherds were elevated from the deepest depths of despair to the highest heights of heavenly joy – thus experiencing the ultimate emotional differential; sealing their hearts forever in the light of God’s glory and resting their souls forever in the Grace and Mercy of God.
The shepherds were beyond relief; they were ecstatic with joy – having experienced God’s Grace and Mercy firsthand.
It’s like getting pulled over by the police for speeding, and whilst anticipating a hefty fine and demerit points, you receive only a warning note – but a billion times more!
It was evident that the shepherds experienced an infinitely huge emotional differential – one so immense that even after the angel left them, plunging them once again into a physical darkness, their hearts remained lit by the glory of God, and led to share the Gospel to the world. (Ref: Luke 2:15)
Indeed, God so loved the world - that none is ever unacceptable, unloved or undeserving of His Good News of Salvation.
The shepherds became the first true recipients of the Good News.
They were so excited.
Not only were they saved from the brink of death, they were now at the very peak of all human experiences – a shot at salvation unto eternal life; if only they somehow got connected with this Saviour.
This Good News truly brought them great joy!
And great joy is God’s divine evidence of those who have truly received the Good News of the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ – what is it?
When you think about Christ, are you filled with great joy?
The true effect of the Gospel is great joy.
If you have wholeheartedly received Jesus Christ as your Saviour - your deliverer and redeemer from the bondages and wages of sin - and as your Lord and King over all, every emotion and endeavour that fills your existence is energized by the great joy of knowing that you are in a personal relationship with Him.
You would be full of amazement, awe and excitement by the Gospel and Grace of God; filled to the brim with an insatiable gratitude to the Lord for having rescued you from the depths of hell; into His glorious light.
You would be filled with the unquenchable passion and heavenly power to live for Christ alone.
I pray that this divine condition of ‘great joy’ speaks to your situation; especially in your moments of despair that you would rest in the reality that God has already saved you!
The devil cannot touch you; sin cannot mar you, death cannot hold you.
You have already been given the gift of eternal life through Christ, Your Saviour!
Are you excited, energised and empowered by the Gospel and for the Gospel?
Are you still so amazed by the Grace of God?
Do you still have this great joy of knowing Christ the Saviour and Lord personally?
Great JOY!
That is the true effect of the Gospel and the hallmark of every born again Christian.
And the devil is terrified of us when we have great joy that comes from the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!
Till that day, the shepherds led a pathetic existence.
But at that moment, having believed the Gospel, they were experiencing the very peak of human experience – great joy!
If even the shepherds could experience such a transformation in opening their hearts to the ultimate emotional differential – in immense gratitude to the Lord ... … what is your excuse?
Do you think that your life can possibly be worse off than the shepherds?
If the shepherds could be touched by the Lord and transformed by the Gospel, we have no excuse not to be transformed; unless, we do not believe.
The shepherds simply understood and cherished the infinite preciousness and value of the Gospel.
They were radically transformed because they were awestruck by God’s Glory and amazed by His Grace.
God’s Grace gripped them in unbridled amazement.
Does the grace of God still amaze you?
It must!
Accept this divine invitation to believe in Christ and follow Him… and do so, with great joy!
The Good News is a divine, yet simple, invitation to experience the goodness of God; it is not a coercion or compulsion out of anxiety or need to control another person.
Such was the invitation of the angel, and not an instruction for the shepherds to verify the prophecy – to receive the Lord and Saviour that the prophecy speaks of.
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly 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.”
15 When 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.
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:11-20)
Even though returned to the darkness of the world, the shepherds remained empowered by the great joy from receiving the Gospel – along with heavenly Peace to those on whom God’s favor rests.
Nothing, or no one, could stop them – for God’s favor rested upon them.
The light of the Gospel was resonating loudly in their hearts and minds – a Saviour had come to rescue them from the bondage of sin and redeem them from their broken and dark life of sin unto an eternal life of great joy and peace!
They didn’t go to meet God in His temple to receive this gift, God came to them in their circumstance; God entered their lives.
Although they were plunged back into darkness, they remained in the light of God.
They knew the true worth of God’s Salvation; and cherished the Grace of God!
They were overwhelmingly amazed by God’s Grace and Glory.
Remember that the first angel did not command them to check out the veracity of the ancient prophecy regarding the Christ-child; the shepherd decided on their own volition to go to Bethlehem to see the Messiah with their own eyes.
The shepherds decided that they must somehow get into a relationship with Christ their Saviour; so they followed Him all the way to Bethlehem..
Why?
Because they were amazed by God’s Grace! Passionate, excited, and they were unreserved in their expression of being amazed by God’s Grace.
It was so profound that they couldn’t keep it in… they had to proclaim His Salvation!
Can you remember where you were, and who was it that God sent to you to announce His Salvation through our Lord Jesus and invite you to find and follow Christ the Messiah - the Saviour who saved you from the bondages and wages of sin?
Think about it.
You are so beloved and precious in God’s sight that He specially sent that person to share His Gospel with you.
This person must have been so amazed by the Grace of God; and must have known the preciousness and infinite worth of the Grace of God that he or she put all inhibitions aside to share the gospel with you.
You must now be thinking, “but that person was more knowledgeable, more qualified, or perhaps, more gifted than me... ...”
Is that going to be your excuse?
Do you think that God’s condition for an evangelist is theological training?
Do you think that status, knowledge, or training qualified the shepherds to become the first evangelists in the world?
Amazed by the Grace of God
The only quality – not qualification – that the shepherds had was that they were thoroughly amazed by the Grace of God; which led them – on their volition - to look for Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.
The amazement experienced by the Shepherds was literally an extremely heart-stopping kind of amazement; that they had spread that amazement to all who heard them.
The shepherds – who were social and religious outcast, deemed as supremely unqualified to do any work of God – were the first evangelists to the world.
What is your excuse?
Recognize that you have been saved from death and damnation unto eternal life and blessings.
Recognize that you are called to a life of great joy and peace, made possible only by your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Be radically transformed unto Christ’s likeness by simply being awestruck by God’s glory.
Experience the ultimate emotional differential that comes from acknowledging how much you need Salvation of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This Christmas, be gripped in unbridled amazement of the grace of God.
Come again to the most precious saving knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour; and may the Holy Spirit touch your heart to the realization of the infinite and immense preciousness of God’s Grace.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Lord, you ordained the shepherds to be first to hear and share Your Gospel – and revealed Your immense love and infinite reach of Your Salvation.
Though we live in the darkness of this world, thank You for draping Your children with Your glory; and filling our lives with Your glorious light.
In Christ, You have elevated me from the deepest depths of hopelessness to the highest heights of heavenly joy and peace.
Grant that I would daily experience this ultimate emotional differential – living in eternal gratitude for Your Salvation over me.
Holy Spirit, seal my heart forever in the light of God’s glory; and rest my soul forever in the Grace and Mercy of God.
Grant that I may daily experience Your Grace, Mercy and Love firsthand; that my heart would forever be lit by Your Glory and led to readily share Your Gospel to the people in my life.
And fill me with great joy and peace – having truly received the Good News of Salvation through Christ and living in personal relationship with my Saviour.
Bless me with the unquenchable passion and Spirit’s Power to live for Christ alone.
May I be radically transformed – as did the shepherds - by the infinite preciousness and the priceless value of the Gospel.
Lord, I acknowledge that I have absolutely no excuse NOT to live for Christ alone and be resolutely passionate about sharing the Gospel.
Enliven and transform my heart, O Lord – that I would always be awestruck by Your Glory and amazed by Your Grace.
Lord Jesus, I receive Your divine invitation to follow You all the days of my life; empower me with great joy to live as Your witness – and bless me with heavenly peace in the divine revelation that God’s favor rests upon me.
Holy Spirit, bind me in the love of God, and in unbridled amazement of His Grace.
May I be restored to the most precious saving knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour; and to the realization of the infinite and immense preciousness of God’s Grace.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.