WEBVTT 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:05.519 I'm excited about bringing this message to you this morning. 00:00:05.759 --> 00:00:14.560 I love Christmas, I love Easter, I love anything that is connected to God, obviously, and also to family, and so this is one of those times of years. 00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:17.920 So if you want to, you can turn in your Bibles to Luke chapter 2. 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:19.920 We're gonna be reading the Linus. 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:21.359 I'm sorry. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:33.840 I felt I thought I thought about playing the Linus thing from uh from Snoopy, you know, the where he gives the story of Christmas, but I will read it and give a little bit more reverence to the word this morning. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:36.240 But anyway, we're gonna be looking at Luke chapter two. 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:47.679 We've seen so far in this series um called Expecting, it's all about the importance of praise and worship in the life of a believer, especially when it comes to our corporate meetings. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:51.200 And what we just experienced together is amazing. 00:00:51.280 --> 00:01:04.959 And I hope that we continue to grow in our desire to be expressive, to be um, to be thoughtful, to be focused, to be worshiping together as one as we gather together on Sundays. 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:09.599 The more that we do that, the more that we're going to experience the presence of God. 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:18.239 And we've been looking at some of the biblical songs that are related to the Christmas story and talking about worship from the from that uh those perspectives. 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:24.239 So we've seen so far that true worshipers can expect to hear God like Zechariah did. 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:25.760 That was great, wasn't it? 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:32.799 And also we we've talked about knowing God like Simeon did and feeling God like Mary, the mother of Jesus, did. 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:40.400 I think she could honestly say that she had the most unique experience when it came to feeling God as she carried Jesus in her womb. 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:47.840 And today we're going to look at a group of people who came from a lowly background and their journey to see Jesus as he truly is. 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:49.760 Who do you think those people might be? 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:52.000 Good guess. 00:01:52.239 --> 00:01:52.879 Excellent. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:02:02.400 Uh, my hope for all of us is that our eyes will be freshly opened to these truths and that we will see the wonder of our Savior once again. 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:03.680 Are you ready for that? 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:05.760 Are you open to that happening this morning? 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:10.560 So the title of today's message is Expecting to See God. 00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:12.879 Expecting to see God. 00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:17.120 Remember, we talked about the fact that worship is a revelation of who God is. 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:19.759 It's where God shows Himself to us. 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:25.199 And as we get to know Him more, there's a response that is fitting for such a God. 00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:35.439 And then also what comes out of that relationship, it is relationship, an ongoing relationship with God is the result of worship. 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:38.879 So let's again read from Luke chapter two, verses eight through twenty. 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:44.479 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night. 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:52.719 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:03:00.639 And the angels said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:07.439 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:09.759 And this will be a sign for you. 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:15.199 You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. 00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:28.960 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:39.919 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:45.199 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:50.000 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:54.319 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 00:03:54.560 --> 00:04:06.719 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart, and the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen as it had been told them. 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:09.360 Let's pray over the service today. 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:12.080 Father, we thank you and praise you for your word. 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:26.319 Your word is matchless, your word is perfect, and your word is written for the people that it was written to 2,000 years ago, and yet it applies perfectly to our day and time as well. 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:30.079 And so, Father, we ask that you would open our eyes today. 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:35.600 Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord, that we might see you as you truly are. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:38.560 We thank you for doing that in Jesus' name. 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:39.439 Amen. 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:51.199 So when I was a young pastor in North Carolina, there was a family that came to our church, and the gentleman played the keyboards, and so he was part of our worship team, which was very small, very small room. 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:58.879 Think about a room about half the size of the community room that was our church, and we met in a bank building. 00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:10.879 And so the front area was not a stage, it was just flat on the ground, and we had, you know, just the a few people that think it was a keyboard player and a singer, may have had one more instrument, a guitar, or something like that. 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:20.639 And the family that this gentleman, the piano player, his he had a daughter, he and his wife had a daughter who was on the autism spectrum. 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:29.759 And this was many, many years ago, and so that was kind of something that wasn't as common or that we that you would hear about as much as you would hear about it today. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:36.639 And so, because she was on the spectrum, she was not, uh she didn't necessarily know all the kind of social cues. 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:43.759 And so sometimes during the service, while praise and worship was going on, her dad was playing the keyboard and she wanted to get near her dad. 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:53.920 And so she would find herself down uh down front and uh stepping on microphone cables and you know, at times tickling the ivory in the wrong key. 00:05:55.040 --> 00:06:09.600 Uh and uh to be honest with you, there were quite a few people who were who were pretty pretty over it, kind of annoyed by this little girl, uh, not because of her, but because of the the behavior, if that makes sense, right? 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:16.000 Um, and uh so this that's why the rest of what I'm gonna tell you was such a surprise. 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:19.199 There was one service where her name was Jessica. 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:28.480 Jessica became very quiet and very still, and she actually turned away from her dad and faced sort of the wall of the church. 00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:43.839 And she lifted up her eyes up towards the ceiling, and she began to say, Jesus, Jesus, I see you, Jesus, I love you, Jesus. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:53.519 And here this is a ten-year-old girl having this experience where the room grew silent. 00:06:55.040 --> 00:07:04.879 No longer were eyes turned to her with disdain, and no longer were the hearts that were there filled with any form of judgment or critique. 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:14.879 Now we were all being challenged by our Savior who was choosing to reveal himself to this precious child. 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:25.680 God wants us to see him, he wants us to see him as he truly is. 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:34.240 And I learned on that day that we can't judge a book by its cover, and we can't say that one person is more worthy than another. 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:38.959 God chooses to show himself in whatever way he chooses to do so. 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:44.800 And she the veil between heaven and earth became very thin that day. 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:59.279 And all of us were crying, and all of us, or most of us, found our our way to the ground with our knees bent as we experienced with her what it must feel like to see Jesus. 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:11.600 And we all know the story. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:31.360 Joseph and Mary have made their way to Bethlehem, and there were so many people that were there that there was no room in the end, and so they were put into a stable that was meant for animals, and we know that Mary gave birth to Jesus, and she wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger that was meant for animals. 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:40.240 And as that story, that part of the story is coming to a conclusion, we move to the second part, which we're going to talk about this morning. 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:47.759 It's interesting to me that the first knowledge about the birth of Jesus wasn't given to the religious leaders of Jerusalem. 00:08:48.080 --> 00:09:04.480 Wouldn't you think that if you wanted to make a big splash, if you wanted to make something really apparent, if you wanted to broadcast something to uh to many, many people, that you would choose people who have some form of authority or some form of influence in the culture around. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:07.840 Uh, but God, in his wisdom, didn't choose to do that. 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:18.240 He didn't choose to uh speak to those who were in Jerusalem, but he spoke instead to a group of shepherds on the hills outside of Bethlehem. 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:22.399 Now you have to understand that shepherds were looked down upon in this culture. 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:28.080 They were looked down upon and they were considered to be the outcasts of Israel by some. 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:29.120 Why was that? 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:47.519 Because there were weeks at a time where they would not be able to get to uh synagogues or to uh you know to the temple in order to uh to do the things that would cause them to be ceremonially clean, and so they were considered to be ceremonially unclean, and so they were looked down upon by many people within the culture. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:52.799 But how many of you know there's another side to this, and that is that God loves shepherds? 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:58.480 All you have to do is remind yourself of the patriarchs of the Jewish nation. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:03.919 Moses was a shepherd, and God revealed himself to him in a burning bush. 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:05.600 And what did he ask him to do? 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:11.120 To go and set the people of Israel free from Egyptian bondage. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:13.039 Excuse me. 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:20.240 We know that David also was a shepherd, and God anointed him and called him to be the king over Israel, right? 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:31.120 And so we have all of these examples, and David himself wrote a beautiful song that many of us can quote, and it starts out, The Lord is my I shall not want. 00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:35.840 So David himself referred to our Savior as a shepherd. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:50.240 And Jesus in John, and we we read about this in John, Jesus said, I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep, and they know me, and they will listen to my voice, and the voice of a stranger they will not follow. 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:54.000 So Jesus himself is a good shepherd, right? 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:56.000 Amen. 00:10:56.320 --> 00:10:57.759 So let's talk about these shepherds. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:10:58.720 Are you ready? 00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:02.559 Number one, the shepherds were busy living their everyday lives. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:05.120 This was not, there was nothing extraordinary. 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:10.879 They weren't like, it doesn't say that they were necessarily praying or that they were having a spiritual moment. 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:14.080 It says that they were taking care of the sheep at night. 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:17.840 So to picture this in your mind, try to get that image in your head. 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:20.399 It's nighttime, they're taking care of their sheep. 00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:25.519 We know that Mark from uh his, thank you, from his talking about shepherds. 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:27.120 We know that they sing over them. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:33.200 We know that there's a lot of you know different uh, you know, vocal things that they'll say to the sheep to calm them. 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:35.440 I'm sure there was some of that that was going on. 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:40.559 Some of the shepherds may have been resting, leaning against olive trees or something like that. 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:43.600 Just try to paint that picture in your head if you can. 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:55.120 Some historians even point to the fact that these shepherds may have been the very shepherds who were caring for the flocks that would provide sacrifices in the temple. 00:11:55.440 --> 00:11:57.360 That would be interesting, wouldn't it? 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:08.480 We don't know for sure, but there there is some historosity to that idea that it's possible that these shepherds were taking care of the sheep that were meant for sacrifice in the temple. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:16.480 It is in this simple setting that they first were given the opportunity to experience God, these shepherds. 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:22.159 You see, we encounter God in our families, in our jobs, in our schools, at church. 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:24.559 This is where worship begins. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:31.759 It doesn't necessarily begin, like I said, with some kind of uh, you know, big thing that's happening. 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:36.960 Sometimes it happens in very small ways, but it begins in everyday life. 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:38.080 Everyday life. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:48.159 Our relationship with Jesus and the way that we experience him should come out of a normative portion of our lives. 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:54.240 So not only were the shepherds living their everyday lives, but the shepherds saw the light. 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:56.320 Now picture this with me. 00:12:56.559 --> 00:12:58.960 There are no, there's no electricity. 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:07.360 There are no jets in the sky, there are no satellites, there are no screens that they're lighting their faces with, right? 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:08.879 There's none of that. 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:12.639 They had oil lamps, possibly, and and and a fire. 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:18.799 But beyond that, the skies besides stars and moon were completely dark, right? 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:20.320 Can you picture that with me? 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:27.759 I'm hoping that you're able to, those of you who are visual people, can can allow yourselves to sort of enter this scene as we talk about this. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:42.240 And all of a sudden, an angel of the Lord appears, and the glory of the Lord, which is the essence of God's character and nature, the glory of the Lord lights up the night, making it appear like it's day. 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:44.720 Can you picture this? 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:47.120 What do you think their eyes looked like? 00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:52.159 Biggest saucers, and probably some of this going on, right? 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:55.440 Who knows what that experience must have been like? 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:56.639 They had no clue. 00:13:56.799 --> 00:14:00.720 They had never experienced anything like this in their entire lives. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:05.200 There were no UFOs, there was nothing that was lighting up the sky. 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:13.440 It was just them and the heavens, and all of a sudden, heaven began to reveal itself in the earth. 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:19.120 In a very real sense, this was a living example of what was happening in the spiritual realm as well. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:23.200 The earth was covered with darkness at this time, spiritual darkness. 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:30.080 It had been 400 years since God had spoken through a prophet, a major prophet, to the nation of Israel. 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:46.000 And so all of a sudden, we have this angel appearing, the glory of the Lord coming with him, lights up the night sky, and this is an example or a something that symbolizes what God is doing in the spiritual realm as well. 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:50.399 We can read about the prophet Isaiah, who had his own experience with seeing God. 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:51.759 You remember that story? 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:54.159 Where he saw God, and what did he do? 00:14:54.960 --> 00:15:00.320 He ran and jumped up in his lap and cuddled with him and gave him some cookies. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:01.919 What love, Yosana? 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:03.360 I mean, I mean, God? 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:03.679 No. 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:04.799 No, he didn't do that. 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:06.240 He fell on his face. 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:08.399 He said, I am unclean. 00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:10.000 I'm a man undone. 00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:16.559 And God touched the coal to his lips and made him made him whole. 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:22.960 And then he commissioned him to speak words that are so powerful. 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:28.080 And even what we're reading about today, Isaiah was allowed to prophesy about. 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:35.600 And in Isaiah chapter 9, verse 2, it says this the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:40.080 Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:43.840 How many of you have seen the great light of Jesus Christ? 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:47.279 And the darkness of your life has disappeared. 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:49.039 That is our story. 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:50.639 That is our testimony. 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:54.879 So God begins to reveal his glory, and the shepherds feel the weight of it. 00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:57.679 There was a holy fear that came over them. 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:01.120 There's a holy fear, and again, we talked about this last week. 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:05.360 The fear of the Lord needs to return to the church of Jesus Christ. 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:07.840 It is something that is essential. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:11.759 It is the beginning of wisdom and the beginning of knowledge. 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:14.000 The fear of the Lord is essential. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:17.600 The presence of the Lord should be awe-inspiring and humbling. 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:22.000 His majesty should evoke a healthy fear. 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:34.000 A healthy fear, not a fear of destruction or a fear of punishment, but a fear that is a reverence and respect for the holiness of God. 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:35.840 He is truly other. 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:40.960 He is other, and yet he chooses to love us. 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:45.519 The shepherds also saw the plan. 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:53.840 They saw the light, and they saw the plan, and it says, And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:59.440 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:01.440 And this will be a sign for you. 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:05.839 You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:15.440 The angel quickly quenches their fear by telling them that there's a plan that's been talked about before, and it is coming to pass before their very eyes. 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:20.000 This plan is about the good news for them and for all people. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:24.240 The good news of God for all people. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.920 So let's talk about that plan. 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:29.279 The plan is good news of great joy. 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.640 Great joy. 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:36.000 The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is literally good news. 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:40.880 How many of you know where to find bad news? 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:46.640 Where are some places you can find bad news? 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:58.799 Television, Facebook, Instagram, you know, all uh TikTok, all these places you can find bad news, but where are you gonna find truly good news? 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:00.559 In the Word of God. 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:09.519 Jesus Himself, the gospel of Jesus, is good news for everyone who hears it and believes it. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.759 We must believe it. 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:17.519 Joy is produced by those who hear the good news of Jesus Christ and believe it. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:21.920 And this joy is unspeakable and full of glory. 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:32.319 Again, my hope for you this week and every week is that you experience an outpouring of the joy of the Lord like you've never experienced before. 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:38.000 I feel like we need it. 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:45.599 The second part of this plan is the plan is found only in the person of Jesus. 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:51.920 How many of you have found that you can talk about God with almost everybody and be fine? 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:56.480 But if you mention the name of Jesus, something changes. 00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.640 Why is that? 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:07.279 Because Jesus is the only way to the Father, and Satan will do anything he can to distract people from the truth. 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:14.960 It's interesting how the angel strategically uses three different names for Jesus in this passage. 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:21.519 And if you take them all together, it really gives us a full picture of the person and ministry of Jesus. 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:22.799 So let's look at these quickly. 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:25.920 First of all, he said Jesus is Savior. 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.359 He is our Savior. 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:29.440 How many of you are glad for that part? 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:31.359 Come on. 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:36.160 He is Jesus, the name Jesus literally means Savior. 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.839 That's what it means. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:45.759 He came to save us from our sins and the just punishment that we deserve because of the sins that we have committed. 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:59.759 Do you guys realize that because of the sins that we have committed in our lives, we deserve the wrath of God, which causes us to be separated from Him forever in a place called hell. 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:03.119 That is the truth, and that's what we deserve. 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:12.400 And yet, God, in his mercy, instituted and initiated this plan that gave us a chance to not have to live out that destiny. 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:14.640 That's good news, friends. 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:17.039 What a wonderful plan. 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:18.960 So Jesus is Savior. 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:25.839 He would do this, Jesus would do this by becoming sin for us and taking our punishment on the cross. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:37.119 2 Corinthians 5.21 says it for our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:42.000 This is the plan, and this is the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:44.960 We are able to be made right with God. 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:51.200 We can have right standing with God, and we can be called children of God. 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:54.720 What a powerful truth and what a powerful reality. 00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:56.720 So Jesus is Savior. 00:20:56.880 --> 00:21:01.279 Second of all, in this, the angel says that Jesus is Christ. 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:04.880 Now, how many of you know Christ is not Jesus' last name? 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:07.279 Like Lind is my last name. 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:08.799 Christ is not Jesus. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.799 Maybe you didn't know that, and that's okay. 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:17.519 I want you to know today that the name Christ means anointed one or Messiah. 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:19.920 Christ means anointed one. 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:30.000 It means that Jesus was authorized and deputized by all of heaven's authority to carry out the plan of the Father here in this earth. 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:36.559 He was authorized, he was anointed, he was appointed, he was deputized, he was sent. 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:50.000 All of those words that you could use to describe Jesus, he came bearing with him all authority in heaven and on earth to fulfill the task that he was at. 00:21:56.400 --> 00:22:06.720 So not only is his name nice, like Savior, but also he has the authority and the ability to do it, to save us from our sins. 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:13.680 Luke 4.18, Jesus comes on the scene, and how does he describe himself in his first church service? 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:19.839 And he did so well at this church service, they didn't applaud at the end, they tried to stone him to death. 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:26.160 I'm praying and begging, and my wife is praying also that that is not the outcome of this message this morning. 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:29.759 But if it is, he'll protect me like you protected Jesus, right? 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:32.799 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:38.400 Jesus is speaking, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:43.680 He has anointed me, anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:54.240 He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:59.279 How many of you can say this morning that you have experienced some of that? 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:04.960 Some of that freedom, some of that healing, some of that restoration. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:10.160 Jesus was anointed and sent from heaven to do that. 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:12.880 Jesus is the Christ. 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:16.880 And finally, it says that Jesus is Lord. 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:18.319 Jesus is Lord. 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:21.039 He is God manifest in the flesh. 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:25.440 And he is King of kings and Lord of lords. 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:28.240 He is sovereign above all things. 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:37.200 And just like the song that we sang this morning, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:41.279 And why will they do that? 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:43.119 To the glory of God the Father. 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:46.480 Jesus Christ is Lord. 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:47.519 He's our friend. 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:48.720 Absolutely. 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:51.279 He's our guide and comforter through the Holy Spirit. 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.480 Absolutely. 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:56.480 But he's also sovereign and he's in charge. 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:58.400 And let's not get that out of order. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:23:59.119 Amen? 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:03.440 This is all part of the great plan that God was revealing to the shepherds. 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:08.240 So the shepherds saw a great plan, but they also saw an open heaven. 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:17.200 An open heaven, it says, and suddenly, how many of you know whenever you see the word suddenly in the Bible, something good is about ready to happen? 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:31.119 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among those with whom he is pleased. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.759 Picture this again. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:37.680 We have this one angel in the glory of the Lord and the light that was shining around him. 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:44.240 And now all of the heavens are filled with angels singing this angelic song. 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:46.640 Imagine. 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:56.160 And these are just poor little shepherd boys taking care of some sheep, experiencing heaven coming to work. 00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.000 Amen. 00:24:58.160 --> 00:24:59.039 That's right. 00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:03.839 So again, suddenly it couldn't be it couldn't be held in any longer. 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:08.400 A multitude, thousands of heavenly hosts appeared. 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:12.640 It wasn't a choir of five or six or ten or twenty. 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:15.359 There were thousands of angels. 00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:18.720 That root word there for multitudes means thousands. 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:25.839 Many, many, many angels filled that night, become day sky. 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:35.279 The supernatural realm is just as real, or dare I say, even more real, than the natural world that we see around us. 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:37.920 Because the spiritual world is eternal. 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:39.599 Right? 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:41.680 It's forever. 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:47.839 Now we tend to concentrate when we think about the spiritual world, we tend to concentrate on the dark side of it. 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:53.519 Evil, Satan, demonic activity, what's going on in the world in that way. 00:25:53.599 --> 00:26:00.559 But I want to remind you that when Satan fell from heaven, he took one-third of the angels with him. 00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:05.599 I'm not a great mathematician, but if you do the math, what's left? 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:12.559 Two-thirds of the angels remain, and Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:16.240 And by the way, if you didn't know this, I'm gonna spoiler alert. 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:20.720 Jesus defeated Satan at the cross of Calvary. 00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:24.880 And he no longer has power or authority over us. 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:27.279 He is a defeated foe. 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:34.799 Right? 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:42.720 But we know he's a defeated foe, and one day he will be locked up forever and ever. 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:46.480 So when we think about the spiritual world, we are to be aware. 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:48.559 We shouldn't be unaware of Satan's devices. 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:50.000 The Bible teaches us that. 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:57.839 But let's not forget, God is sovereign and his forces are larger than Satan's by a lot. 00:26:58.319 --> 00:27:00.640 So let's look at the angel's song for a minute. 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:04.240 The angel's song shows the proper heart posture of worship. 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:07.200 So beautiful the way that this all unfolds. 00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:09.680 It says, Glory to God in the highest. 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.799 That's the first part of this. 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:12.240 Glory to God in the highest. 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:15.519 Now I know this as the eggshell song. 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:17.440 You know what I'm talking about? 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:28.079 In eggshell sees deo. 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:30.400 Right? 00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:33.920 Miss Heather, is that the way you pronounce it? 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:36.160 Here's our choir teacher. 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:37.359 She's affirming. 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:40.640 Sorry, I worked one joke into it, guys. 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:42.559 I know we've been real serious. 00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:49.440 But that is the title that's been given to this song, Gloria in Excelsius Deo. 00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:51.920 So here's the thing we need to know about this. 00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:54.400 Worship is not about me. 00:27:57.759 --> 00:28:06.880 I'm so sorry that the worship culture, especially in America, has become largely about me. 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:11.440 All my stuff and all of that. 00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:22.000 It's not wrong to sing about what God's done for us, but when it becomes like a consumer list, like a shopping guide for God, it bothers me. 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:22.720 Does it bother you? 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:24.799 Kind of gets to me a little bit. 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.720 Worship is not about me. 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:29.839 We are to bring glory and honor to God. 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:40.640 As the West Minister Catechism says, the chief end of man should be to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:45.440 Worship, the posture of worship is not about me. 00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:47.200 It's about glorifying him. 00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:53.920 It's about exalting him, it's about lifting him up and praising him and adoring him. 00:28:54.400 --> 00:29:01.920 That is literally our highest calling and what every aspect of our life should be centrally focused on to bring glory to God. 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:02.880 Listen to this. 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:07.440 Every time we worship God, we join in with the heavenly choir. 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:14.880 Every time we open our mouths to praise and worship God, we're joining in with the heavenly choir. 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:22.559 And if you want some more of their music, you can find their their their uh what's the word for playlist? 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:24.400 Thank you, in the book of Revelation. 00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:29.519 So let's look at Revelation chapter 5, verse 9, and look at one of their top hits. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:34.000 Is this on the top of your playlist? 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:54.640 And they sang a new song saying, Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priest to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. 00:29:54.880 --> 00:30:15.440 Then I looked and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. 00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:31.920 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them, saying, To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever. 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.079 Right? 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:12.240 Our interest should be his, and his interest is ours. 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:15.680 He desires good things for us. 00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:20.960 God's heart has always been to have a great relationship with his children. 00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:23.440 He doesn't want to have broken relationships. 00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:29.920 He doesn't want to have uh, you know, cold shoulders and non-communicative uh, you know, stories about his kids. 00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:33.920 He wants to have a great relationship with his family. 00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:37.359 The problem is, it's a three-letter word. 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.240 What is it? 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:39.519 Sin. 00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:44.960 Sin has caused there to be enmity between God and man. 00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:50.160 And a holy God must punish sin in order to remain holy. 00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:56.720 The sacrificial system in the Old Testament was put in place to cover over the sins of the people. 00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:59.680 It could not remove the sins, but it could cover over. 00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:06.319 So there could be some semblance of right relationship with God, even through the old covenant in the Old Testament. 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:27.440 But now, through Jesus Christ, there will be, there was, there, there would be, a once and for all sacrifice that would open the door for us to be able to repent of our sins and to put our faith, hope, and trust in Jesus Christ so that we might be saved and restored to right relationship with God. 00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:36.640 This is the story of Christmas and Easter and Thanksgiving. 00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:39.759 We should be thankful for this, in other words. 00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:50.400 You see, the Messiah came to be both the good shepherd and the Lamb of God, sacrificed for the sins of the world. 00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:53.680 The story of Christmas does not end in a manger. 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:56.880 The story of Christmas ends on a cross. 00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:07.599 Jesus' life and ministry would fulfill the song of the angels as he would live himself to bring glory to God in the highest. 00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:14.960 That was his utmost aim, to glorify his heavenly father, to do anything that his father asked of him. 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:21.039 And also that there would be peace on earth toward those with whom he is pleased. 00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:24.000 And who are those with whom he is pleased? 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:33.920 He is well pleased with those, again, who have repented of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:43.759 Romans 5, verse 1 says, Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:54.720 We have peace with God because of the, and then we also can experience the peace of God, which is the tangible presence of peace in our lives. 00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:59.359 But that we can't have the peace of God until we experience peace with God. 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:00.480 Amen. 00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:07.599 Now, how many of you know we can't earn this peace and we don't deserve it? 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:12.880 And like the song says, He gives it anyway, freely. 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:17.199 And finally, the shepherds saw God. 00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:20.480 The shepherds saw God. 00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:26.480 That's enough. 00:34:26.719 --> 00:34:28.400 I've seen enough, I've heard enough. 00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:30.480 This is all of God that I need. 00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:36.079 But how many of you know the shepherds were not content to remain in an experience with God? 00:34:36.239 --> 00:34:38.320 They wanted God Himself. 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:45.280 Let's not settle for an experience when we can have Him for ourselves. 00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:50.159 I'll take a relationship over an experience every day of the week. 00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:52.639 But I'd like the experience as well. 00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:54.960 We can have both, right? 00:34:55.920 --> 00:35:04.960 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. 00:35:05.119 --> 00:35:10.239 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. 00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:18.400 They must see Jesus. 00:35:21.119 --> 00:35:24.639 Imagine what it must have been like to enter that stable. 00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:31.360 Go over to the manger that had been spoken of to them by the angel to look down. 00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:35.119 Jesus must have been cooing, right? 00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:38.400 Or cuddly, you know, just very sweet. 00:35:39.519 --> 00:35:41.840 I don't know, whatever image you want to get. 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:46.079 But they stare into the eyes of their savior, Jesus. 00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:53.760 I can't even imagine what that must have been like. 00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:55.840 What an honor and privilege. 00:35:56.880 --> 00:36:04.800 And because they experienced this, they were so transformed by seeing God that they couldn't stop talking about it. 00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:14.000 It says, and when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child, and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 00:36:14.159 --> 00:36:31.199 This is the passion of a new convert, somebody who has experienced God for themselves and is now wanting to pursue him even further and to pursue him to the point where they're sharing the message that they've received with everyone else around them. 00:36:32.159 --> 00:36:35.280 And that was only the job of the shepherds, right? 00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:37.840 No. 00:36:39.280 --> 00:36:41.199 That's the job of the sheep. 00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:43.599 Just like us. 00:36:44.960 --> 00:36:46.559 We get the chance. 00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:58.320 Like a new convert, like somebody who's passionate about salvation because they've just experienced being ripped away from the kingdom of darkness and being brought into the kingdom of light. 00:36:58.639 --> 00:37:07.440 Let us return to our first love and share that love with those around us at this Christmas season and always. 00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:08.880