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Mission Sent
Angelic Announcements: Exploring the Role of Angels in Jesus' Story
Imagine standing among shepherds in a quiet field, when suddenly, the sky fills with heavenly light and angelic voices announcing the most monumental event in history: the birth of Jesus. This week, we unravel the vital role angels played not just as celestial heralds, but as integral figures in the narrative of Jesus’ life—from His miraculous birth to His triumphant ascension. By exploring scriptures like Hebrews 13 and Luke 2, we rediscover angels as divine messengers with a profound impact, urging us to see beyond their common portrayal and recognize their true significance.
We continue our journey by examining how angels exemplify obedience and readiness, reflected in their unwavering service during Jesus' ascension. Just as they reminded the disciples of their divine mission, we too are called to proclaim the return of the King with the same fervor and commitment. I share a personal story about my own experience of unexpected arrivals and how it serves as a metaphor for being prepared for Jesus' second coming. This reflection invites us to contemplate our readiness and the importance of living each day with anticipation and purpose.
Our episode concludes with an exploration of love and selflessness, inspired by the angels' constant glorification of God. We reflect on how viewing Jesus through the angels' perspective can transform our relationships and responsibilities, challenging us to move beyond personal belief toward genuine faith and repentance. By sharing anecdotes on marriage and everyday interactions, we delve into Jesus’s commandments to love God and others, and how small acts of kindness during the Advent season can be powerful acts of ministry. Join us in this heartfelt reflection on embracing humility, love, and goodwill as we prepare for the celebration of Christ's birth.
All right, as we jump back into our Advent series, I want to start by just really thanking Jesus because at least the weather now feels like we should be in an Advent series. All right, I know not everyone is cool with cold weather, but I am and it is awesome. So last week we looked at the shepherds being the first people group that were told about the coming of the king. This week we're going to look at the angels that came with the king and, I'm going to be honest, it's going to get a little spiritual, which is something, if you know me, I'm not super comfortable with. Right, I am a, a Baptist through and through. I was born and raised in the Baptist church. We didn't talk about angels, like, like, angels were simply the decorations you put up with the Christmas stuff. Um, but they, they just we just leave them there, right, all right. So this week we're going to jump into that. The king is coming with the angels. So the angels, as we just heard in verse 13, were there at the beginning with the coming king. In verse 13 it said and suddenly there was, with the angel, a multitude of heavenly host praising god and saying glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace among those whom he is pleased.
Speaker 1:Now, before we kick in, we need to discuss this really quick and I promise you this is not going to be an exhaustive list, but we need to understand what exactly an angel is, because when I use the word angel, I'm sure, depending on your background, depending on your previous knowledge, you have different ideas of what an angel is. I know I've talked to people that believe that, hey, after all, things are done, when we reunite with Christ, we become angels. Most of us, when we think of angels, they sit here and go hey, they're people that look like us, they just have wings. There are other people that go yes, they're like chubby little babies, and you know, they just kind of fly around looking cute. And you know, they just kind of fly around looking cute. So, just like with anything else, I want to make sure we have a clear definition that we can all go with with an angel, and I'm going to start by reading in Hebrews 13, verses 1 and 2. Let brotherly love continue.
Speaker 1:Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware. Okay, here's what the writer of Hebrews is saying. Sometimes, when you say hello to a stranger, when you buy a cup of coffee for a stranger, you're actually entertaining angels, all right. So we have to keep in mind that when we see angels throughout scripture, sometimes an angel looks just like me or you. Sometimes they look vastly different, like, if you go into the book of Ezekiel and I'm not going to read through this, all right Ezekiel gives us some descriptions of angels that look like big, like what are they? Gyroscope things, and if you don't know what that is, it's like a circle with a circle with a circle with a circle inside, all right. And they got eyes that cover them all over the place and they look in every direction, all right. So there's a lot of different things we could talk about when we come to an angel.
Speaker 1:But see, some of us in this room, you've entertained angels and didn't even know it. So, to start with the word angel, in Greek is this word angelos, and it simply translates into this a messenger. See, a lot of us. We just ascribe all the spiritualness to it, when, in fact, an angel's only purpose and job is to be a messenger, to say this is what God told me to say. In other words, these are heavenly beings that do whatever God tells them to do. Now, some of us, most of us in this room you're probably familiar with the angels Gabriel, michael, some of us we have a little bit more of a background in it. You could tell me who the seraphim were. Some of us, like you, can even go hey, and I know what the cherubim are. All right, however, girls, that's where you got your names from, right.
Speaker 1:Like we've discussed many times, however, another thing we need to know about angels is this Angels were there from the birth of the king, to the death of the king, to the resurrection of the king and the ascension of the king. All right, angels were there for all of this. It wasn't like they just popped up one day. They saw it all. See, what we just read in Luke 2 was the angels announcing the coming of the birth of the king. So, when they appear to the shepherds at night, they go hey, the king is coming. This one you have been waiting for for what seems like forever is coming, and this will be a sign unto you. They even tell them hey, here's where you need to go, find the king. Here's how you'll know that this is the king. Think about it If, like an angel appeared to you and went hey, go to the farmhouse and look in the manger. That's where you will find the king. Most of us wouldn't have started there right, like if I came to you and was like hey, the next president is born. You're not coming to Deltona to look for him. Let's be honest, you've gotten one vote for presidency. That wasn't enough. But what we see is that the angel, the angels, announce the birth.
Speaker 1:And then we look 30 years into the future and we get to matthew, chapter 4. In matthew, chapter 4, we see, right after Jesus is baptized, he goes into the wilderness and he's out there for 40 days. He's fasting. This is a word that, by the end of the month, we're going to be very acquainted with as we step into 2025. But Jesus has been fasting for 40 days. Here's what that means he wasn't eating, he wasn't eating, he wasn't drinking.
Speaker 1:At the end of that 40 days, who shows up? The devil. And the devil is now going to tempt us. The first thing he's going to tempt him with is food. All right, see, some of us, we I could not be tempted Like Debbie. I'll just use Debbie for an example. Debbie, last night, when we were discussing what we wanted to eat for dinner, she went it really doesn't matter, I'll just drink a protein shake and I'll just go from there To which. I always look at her and go what? You're just going to drink some chocolate milk and like, call it good, like that is not cool. Now, most of us we go like by the end of service, the devil could probably tempt us with food. I go, jesus went 40 days. I'm sure at the end he is just starving.
Speaker 1:And after the devil couldn't bring Jesus because he doesn't give in to the temptations. Look at what it said in verse 11. Then the devil left him and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. So after, when Jesus is at this like incredibly weak point, who showed up the angels? They were probably most likely this isn't in the Bible, so this is just my guess, but they were probably, like most likely, just standing there waiting for their opportunity to show up to help and minister to Jesus. Like, think about it. Anybody in here and I know like we are all just amazing human beings and would never even think about this, but anybody in here remember like when you were in like either middle or high school and your friends were about to fight, like and everybody gets in what around them, the circle right, and none of us were cheering for the fight to happen. However, all of us were waiting right to see if another friend on the other side jumped in, because you were definitely waiting for that other thing, right, like when I read this, that's what I'm picturing the angels doing, like they're sitting there and they're watching the devil trying to attack Jesus and they're just waiting for their opportunity to join in that fight. But Jesus overcomes the devil, he does what the first Adam couldn't do, and when he gets done, the angels come in and they minister to him. Then, as Jesus is arrested all right, he is about to go to the cross.
Speaker 1:We are like 24 hours away from this crucifixion. He's getting arrested and look at what it says in Matthew 26. Then Jesus said to him put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my father and he will at once send me more than 12 legions of angels? A legion, for those of you that don't know, is about a thousand. So when we see more than 12 legions, we're sitting here going. Jesus is sitting here going. Do you not understand that if I really wanted to do this, that way that I could have 12,000 angels down here, like, understand, guys, they're not taking me against my will, Because if I didn't want this to happen, I have these warriors and if all I need to do is go, hey, dad, go ahead and send them and then we have no battle? In fact, when we get all the way to the end of the book in Revelation, isn't it the angels who are riding with Jesus into Armageddon?
Speaker 1:Again, these aren't just those cute little like cherub that we think of. In fact, cherub, really, it was in the Middle Ages that they became the fat little babies with wings okay, in the Bible, that is not how they're described. Babies with wings okay, in the Bible, that is not how they're described. In fact, when Adam and Eve are kicked out of the garden, it's the cherub that are guarding the entrance to the garden, all right. So these aren't just these cute little things that we see in ancient pictures.
Speaker 1:However, what we have to understand Is angels are terrifying. Anytime in scripture Someone encounters an angel, what is the first thing that they say? Fear, not why. Because these things are terrifying, because if you were to see that In that form, you would be terrified. I mean, think about it the seraphim have six wings two that cover their face, two that cover their body and two that they fly with, and all of the wings are covered with eyeballs. So, again, if you were to see that, most of us in this room would be like, nope, not messing with that. Which is why they're always sitting here going, hey, don't be afraid. And what Jesus is sitting here saying, as he is about to be arrested, as he's about to go to the cross, as he's sitting here, going at my disposal, at any given time I can have this legion of angels come down to protect me.
Speaker 1:And then, at the resurrection, we see an entirely different story In Matthew 28,. Starting in verse 1, it says this Now, after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, mary and the other Mary went to see with that, were like, nope, don't want to mess with that. But the angel said to the women do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen. As he said, come see the place where he lay. See, the angels have been with the king from the start until the end. In fact, when we get to Acts 1, which we talked about a little bit yesterday, right 1-8, is this for when you receive the power of the Holy Spirit, you will be my witnesses.
Speaker 1:So after Jesus says this and ascends back into heaven, here's what we see. Starting in verse 10, it says and while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold two men stood by them in white robes. Who are those? Are they just random men who just happen to be wearing white robes in the middle of the desert? No, those aren't angels. Right, and said men of Galilee. Why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who is taking up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. See, understand.
Speaker 1:Every time we see this, these angels show up and they go hey, what are you like? In this case? They're sitting here, going. Wait, what are you just staring in the sky? For? Jesus told you to go do something. Go do it. Stop sitting here looking up at the sky. He'll come back, like he'll be back, but right now you have some work you need to get done. Go do it. See, that is what an angel does. Everywhere we see them, this is what they do.
Speaker 1:Even if you went back into the old Testament, like at Sodom and Gomorrah, who does God send into the city to see if there are any wicked people? Two angels Like. That is what angels do, whatever God tells them to do, and they report on that. So why is that important to us? Why do we care that the angels came with the king? Why, if you drive around and look at all the different Christmas decorations that your neighbors put up, why do we have angels Like? Why is there always that one goofy angel with the trumpet? Why do we matter? Well, it matters quite a bit to us because the angels show us how we should be doing the commands that Jesus gave us. You know what? You only see one time in Scripture Angels questioning God. Anybody want to take a guess at where we see that? Right, when we have Lucifer's rebellion and a third of the angels are cast down to the earth with him. Other than that, you never see an angel.
Speaker 1:Go hang on, see, and it's easy for me to see this being, you know, ex-military and ex-law enforcement. Right, because hierarchy matters very much to me. Chain of command matters very much to me, because when you receive orders as, let's just say, a private, guess what you're not doing, do you really think this is the best route for us to go? When I was in law enforcement, if your captain came to you and went, hey look, you're going to run radar here, you don't immediately follow that back up with? Well, I think this street would be better. It's kind of just like yes, sir, see, and that's what we see throughout Scripture. God says jump angels, go how high. Says, jump angels, go how high. Except for the rebellion at the beginning, before any of this was ever set into motion. That is what we see in.
Speaker 1:The angels ministered to a suffering Jesus. You know why. So we have an example of how to minister to a suffering world, to a suffering world. The angels announced all that they were told. Why? Because we should be boldly announcing all that we are told. Remember, an angel is a messenger. Like that's what we should be.
Speaker 1:Here's the thing. We all want to be prophets. Like that's what we want, right? Thus said the Lord You're a dirty, evil, wicked sinner and you're going to hell. How do I know that we want to be that? All you got to do is drive up and down the road. I'm not the only one in here who, just a couple of blocks up from us, where there is another church, has came up and went. I would never hold signs like that up against the road, because that is what their signs say.
Speaker 1:There's signs that sit here and say God is hateful of this and God is hateful of that. That is the job of a prophet, and that job has been closed because Jesus came. We have Scripture. Now you don't need to tell me what God is thinking, because I can read the Bible and know exactly what God is thinking. Do you know what our role should be, though? That role of the messenger? The king is coming, because, although, yes, we're about to celebrate the first advent, you know what else the Bible tells us we will have A second advent. See, at the end of all this, jesus is coming back, and you know what our goal should be To announce that, that the king is coming. In fact, if you lived in the first century, do you know that most disciples believed that they would see the return of Jesus before they died? And you know our problem as we sit here and go. Well, I mean, it's been 2,024 years.
Speaker 1:I think I got some time. I'll never forget. I was about 17, maybe 18, somewhere in there my parents were away, which was kind of normal for me. Like you know, they went to the beach not every weekend, but I mean it wasn't abnormal for them to go stay at the beach for a weekend. So I did what every 17 or 18 year old would do. I had my friends over, we got in. You know, we had a prayer circle. Um, that inevitably led into a different kind of circle, and so we're, we're kind of just sitting there because my parents are at the beach. It's Friday night. They're gone until Sunday.
Speaker 1:I know I got time and as I'm sitting in my living room, all of a sudden our front windows light up with this like very bright headlights, and I went everyone's here that is coming tonight. We didn't order pizza. What are these lights? So as I stand up and look out the window, I see our van pulling back into the driveway and I went, oh, oh why? Because I wasn't prepared for mom and dad to be like pulling back up to the house, wasn't prepared for mom and dad to be like pulling back up to the house. Now, luckily, the way our house was set up, we had a door here and a door here, so, like, as they came in one door, everybody else went out another door.
Speaker 1:But see, that's how some of us are going to be when Jesus comes back, because, instead of sitting here going, hey, the king is going to come back, we're sitting here going, hey, the king is going to come back. We're sitting here, going. I got time, I can get this right. Let me just have a little bit more fun, right? Everybody remembers that when your kids were little, right, like, hey, come on, we got to go, come on, we got to go Get your stuff. Now we have to go. See, in a lot of us, that's how we're acting. Well, we're sitting here going we got time, I got time to figure this whole thing out, when, in fact, we should be doing what the angels were doing and sitting here going. Let me boldly proclaim what I've been told to proclaim. See, jesus tells the angels to do something and they do. They don't sit here and go. Okay, I'm going to pray about it and then, depending on what God tells me, then I'll do it.
Speaker 1:The best example I could give you is this I know, not everybody in here is a math teacher, but here's the most frustrating part about being a math teacher. It's not that math is hard, it's kids want to invent their own way to do math. See, like, when I pull out the whiteboard and I go, okay, hey, I'm going to give you an example of a problem. Here's step one, step two, step three, step four. All right, you guys are good. Yeah, anybody have any questions? No, all right, go 30 seconds later. It never fails.
Speaker 1:Mr Lively, you have a question already. Like I literally just walked. I literally just asked if you had a question. What's up? All right, how do we do this? Again, it's up on the board. Just follow steps. It's super easy. Like, if you can add, subtract, multiply and divide, this is super easy. All the steps are up there.
Speaker 1:And then you look at their paper and you're like, what on earth are you doing? Because you're sitting here, going, like, where do you see that? Up on the board. Like you can't just do this. It's like I firmly believe, though, after teaching math, this is how god looks at me and goes what? That's not what I told you to do. I gave you steps on how to do this. You can't just invent your own ways. Like I told you, you want a successful marriage. Here's how it looks. You want a long life. Here's how it looks Like. You want purpose. You want meaning. Here's what it is. You know how many times over the past like I don't know two months I've talked to someone who has come up with the idea of just eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. There's no purpose in any of this because eventually we're just gonna die.
Speaker 1:And I love when they start quoting. I love when they start quoting Ecclesiastes to me like that he's picking. I love when they start quoting Ecclesiastes to me like that he's picking Because I go. You know how that book ends, right? Solomon comes to a conclusion the chief end of man is glorify God, keep his commandments. So we forget that part. See the angels get it. The chief end is to glorify God.
Speaker 1:Every time we see angels interacting with God, they're like singing, like even just now in Luke 2, as the multitude of heavenly hosts appear to announce to the shepherds. They tell them hey, here's the deal. The king is coming. You'll find him wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. And then what? Then they break into song Glory to God in the highest and on peace among.
Speaker 1:Okay, here's the hard part with this verse. Most of us, we've memorized this to sound more like this glory to god in the highest, and peace and goodwill towards men. The esv does not word it that way. So I, if I mess up on that verse, that's why because I memorized it in a different version again. We see in revelation the. The angels are around God and what happens? Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, god Almighty, who was and is and is to come. How many of us? That's our outlook on this. Like most of us, if we're honest, don't sing when Josh is singing, the angels can't help themselves. They're like oh man, let me just tell you Jesus is amazing. And then boom, glory, glory, glory. Like. That's how they operate. You know why? Because they see Jesus for who Jesus is. Do you know that's the hardest thing you'll ever have to do in your life Is to see Jesus for who Jesus is, and you know when you do how you see everything else changes.
Speaker 1:I was talking to a young man one day. We were talking about marriage and this, that the other thing, and he just happened to catch me and Debbie together. So it was an interesting conversation because they got to hear my point of view, but they also got to hear my wife's point of view and, if you don't know, debbie is not afraid to go. No, he ain't always been like that. So, as we're sitting there talking and they were like, well, how did it go from this to this? I went. Honestly, it's because my vision of Jesus went from this to this, because when I can rightfully see Jesus, I can rightfully see my wife, I can rightfully see my wife, I can rightfully see my responsibility as a husband, I can rightfully see my responsibility as a father. It changes my perspective and those of us that were here on Wednesday, that was the big thing. Right.
Speaker 1:How do we find the secret of being content? Most of the time, it's understanding that my perspective of what I see is wrong. So what's the secret of that Seeing Jesus for who Jesus is? See because it's easy for us to chase after the idols of this world. When I diminish who Jesus is, which is what most of us do, think about it. Why are you an idol? Because you think it's going to make you happier than Jesus will. Because you have more faith in being able to gain from this idol than you have going. Let me gain from the creator of all creation, because we're afraid that if I chase Jesus, what if he doesn't replace this empty feeling I'm feeling. See, the angels know better than that. They don't have to do it by faith because they're in the presence of God. We have to do it by faith because faith isn't saying I believe these facts are true.
Speaker 1:The devil I'm going to tell everybody in this room this the devil believes Jesus is the son of God. The devil believes that Jesus died on the cross. The devil believes that Jesus was laid in a tomb. The devil believes that Jesus rose again. The devil believes that Jesus is coming back. It is more than just do you believe these things are true, because here's the difference the devil will never repent. The devil will never get to a point where he goes hey look, I ain't got this. I need a savior. That's the difference. The devil will never rightfully see Jesus for who Jesus is. But it's not that he doesn't know all the answers. You can know all the answers.
Speaker 1:Me and JT were talking about something Saturday night, not Saturday night, friday night, and in this conversation, which was not a very comfortable conversation for either one of us. I went JT. Here's the thing, man. What's the point of me even talking to you about this? You already know everything I'm going to say. Like, you can have this whole argument yourself, because you know what daddy's going to tell you.
Speaker 1:Jt, at some point it just becomes are you going to choose to do different? It's not new information you need. At some point, it's just you sitting here going At some point. It's just you sitting here going. I have to choose to do different. It is a choice, make no mistake.
Speaker 1:See and the angels, they've seen this from the beginning. The angels go. I'm just going to do what Jesus tells me to do. And let me explain it like this the commands of Jesus are very, very, very simple, very simple. It is not complicated. What Jesus wants from you Love God more than you love everything else in your life and love others the way that you love you. That's all Jesus commands you to do. That's it, super simple. Don't be selfish. Think of others more than you think of you. If you can do that listen very carefully you are keeping all of the laws of the prophet. All you have to do is love others. Don't put yourself higher than what you are in life. That's it. See, and the angels understand that. Now do we? Well, just think back a couple of days.
Speaker 1:Thanksgiving was Thursday, right? Were you first in line to get food, or did you allow everyone else to go before you, like some of us? If we're honest, you pushed your own grandmother out of the way because she was looking at the stuffing again and you were like, nope, I'm getting that. And the only reason I use that as an example is because I saw that at Thanksgiving, at our Thanksgiving, literally saw someone grab their grandmother and kind of take that one step in front like hold on, you, chill out back here. Good morning, good morning. See how many of us we just look out for numero uno. Hey, I'm gonna make sure I'm good. I'm gonna make sure my family's good. Other than that, if I can get around to it, I will, but this is all I'm worried about. Understand.
Speaker 1:The reason this comes up now is because we are in the advent season. There is no better time to put everyone else above you than right now, because what we're about to celebrate in about 24 days was literally the creator of creation, the king of everything going. I'm going to put everyone else above me Like, think about that. Matthew 28,. No, matthew 20 and 28. I'm sorry it says this Even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve. It's one of our founding verses here. Because if Jesus came to serve, why on God's green creation would we think that our role is not to serve? If the king of all creation can go hey, you know what gabby, I'm gonna put you above me then why in god's green creation do you think that it wasn't meant for you to put others before you? If jesus is sitting here going hey, here's what I came to do why do you think you're more important than Jesus? And I know why. That's because all of us were taught our whole life you got to look out for you because no one else is going to. And here's the deal they probably won't. But did Jesus come to earth to look out for himself, or did Jesus come to earth to go? I'm going to redeem my creation, whatever it takes. Jesus knew what it was going to take before he even got here. That's why, when he's praying before the crucifixion, he says Father, if there is any way to let this pass from me, take it, because he knew what was coming.
Speaker 1:See how many of us, how many of us wrote letters to a big fat man in a red and white suit and went hey, this year, this is what I want, and give me this and give me this and give me this. Ps. I've been a very good boy this year, except for a couple of times where I got in trouble. How many of us, if we're honest, treat Jesus the same way? Hey, I went to church. Hey, I tithed my money. Hey, I did what I was supposed to do. Now, can you give me this and give me this, and give me this and give me this? Jesus and Santa aren't the same people, though, in fact and I don't want to spoil anything, because I do know there are kids in here, so I'm just going to move on to something. But, if we're honest, that's how most of us look at Jesus, which is the opposite of how the angels see Jesus. See, the angels see Jesus and they go. Glory to God in the highest and on earth. Peace, goodwill towards men. Anybody in here, stop and ever.
Speaker 1:Think about how many people in your life that you know are suffering this Christmas season. Think about it. You watch the news for 15 minutes. I don't know if anybody saw this like on wednesday, it was how much thanksgiving cost in 2020. How much thanksgiving will cost in 2024? Like you guys do know, we just had an election right last month. Do you know what, after they did all the exit surveys and everything, do you know what? The number one reason people used to vote was the economy. Why? Because people are sitting here going.
Speaker 1:I can't afford anything anymore. I can't even afford to like put gas in my car, let alone think about, oh, what my children or family want for Christmas. Like we just went and bought a Christmas tree, you know, because it's that time and we decorate. It was $100. And in the back of my mind now, christmas is my favorite holiday, so this wasn't like the forefront. But in the back of my mind, I went man, we might as well just took $100 and lit it on fire. But in the back of my mind I went man, we might as well just took $100 and lit it on fire, because this thing that we're bringing into our house is just going to get lit on fire when we're done using it in a couple of weeks. What a waste. That was in the back of my mind. Okay, the joy of my mind was oh, I can't wait to get home and we get to decorate this thing, and I can't wait to walk by it every morning and go smells delicious. Not delicious, that's the wrong adjective. But think about it.
Speaker 1:How many people in your life that you know are suffering this Christmas? How many times have we opened up our mouth and went hey, is there any way the church can help out with this? Like, I know this family. They're not going to be able to have anything on Christmas. Can the church help out with this? I go, that's what we did for Thanksgiving and you know what we're going to do for Christmas the same thing.
Speaker 1:The only thing I require of any of us is that it has to be someone you know. I don't want to donate to some faceless charity. Any of us is that. It has to be someone you know I don't want to donate to some faceless charity. Like I go, I want you to enter into that uncomfortableness with that person that you know and go hey, look, here's the deal. I can make sure this stuff is taken care of. You need food. I can make sure we can get you food. You need some presents. We're about to have a Christmas party where you have to bring presents with you so that we can give them out to other people? About to have a Christmas party where you have to bring presents with you so that we can give them out to other people Like I go?
Speaker 1:How many of us step into that suffering? How many people are that you know are sitting here going Christmas? I don't know where it's going to come from. And it always makes me laugh because when I think about this, like most of our first thoughts would be, I'll help. But do you know what my first thought with this is when we sit here and go, oh, they're not going to be able to have Christmas because they can't afford to, is the Grinch Like? Does anybody know how like the ending of the Grinch actually goes? It came without packages and ribbons and bows.
Speaker 1:Christmas came anyway. Why? Because the king came. Now, that doesn't mean we wouldn't buy food and gifts for people, but ultimately you can buy them thing.
Speaker 1:If you're not telling them, as the angels told the shepherds, that hey, the king is coming, then we are missing the entire boat of this. And that doesn't mean, hey, we'll only buy you food if you come to our church or you will only buy you food if you say this little prayer. However, it does give us the opportunity to go. Yeah, I'm gonna buy you food regardless, but I'm also going to tell you this. It's the same thing like if you notice I'm wearing a missions and outdoor shirt yeah, I will take you out on my boat, I have no problem with that, but I am going to tell you about Jesus while we're out there and I don't need you to go. Hey, okay, cool, can you baptize me while we're out here? It would be awesome if that happened, but that's not the purpose, especially if we're reeling in sharks. I'm not going to be like, hey, yeah, let's get out Baptized by fire on that one, but it gives us the opportunity to be just like the angels.
Speaker 1:Christmas came because the king came and the angels know that, do we? So, as we close today, as the Advent season keeps trucking along, let me ask you this what are you doing for others? What are we doing as a church to give just as we have been given? What are we doing to spread goodwill towards our community? What are we doing to announce to everyone glory to God in the highest?
Speaker 1:So, as Josh comes back up and we begin to close, ask yourself, this week, what am I going to do for someone else and someone else that you're not related to? Let's throw that in there too, because here's the deal I will probably do something for Debbie at some point this week. I am sure that's not really a sacrifice for me. Like if I go, hey, babe, go sit down and watch TV, I'll do the dishes that is pretty normal in our house. That's not something that I need to like get on social media and be like look, gabe Bay, you know a break. Like I'll probably do something for JT this week. I'll probably feed him, which, at his age and his point in life, is the biggest love language. Right, I go. Those aren't sacrifices I'm talking about.
Speaker 1:What are you going to do for someone? What about a stranger that you don't even know, because, for all you know, you might be ministering to an angel. So when you buy that cup of coffee for that single mom behind you, guess what that may just be Jesus going, hey, is there anyone who is not wicked in Deltona or Sanford? Oh, yeah, or Sanford, because y'all need help over there too but ask yourself, what am I going to do? What goodwill will I bring to someone else's life this week? It doesn't have to be money. I get it Like I'm not sitting here going. You have to spend an exorbitant amount of money on someone else. Sometimes it just might be making time for someone else. Sometimes it might just be that person needs to talk to someone. Sometimes they just need a shoulder to lean on. Maybe you're a funny person, you can tell them a joke, but what sacrifices are you going to make for someone else this week?
Speaker 1:So, father, I ask and I pray God, just as you came with the angels, father, I pray that we follow more like that, that, god, we see you rightly. That, father, we do whatever it is we need to do, and that, god, we just break out in song after that, because we see you for who you are. Do and that, god, we just break out in song after that because we see you for who you are. God, I pray that as we move through this week, we're not selfish, that we love you with everything we are and that we love others the way that we love us. And, father, if we're struggling with loving us, father, I pray that you speak to the brokenhearted. I pray, father, that you show them they are worth it. So that way, father, they may love others the way that they love them. Father, we pray all of this in Jesus' name, amen.