1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:24,640 I gotta tell you, I enjoy our service is so unique. 2 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:29,680 You know, to hear God's people give praise and prayer and being able to share that together 3 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:38,200 as a family, it is a very unique opportunity and I'm so grateful and thankful. 4 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,800 That being said, I want us to turn to Luke chapter 2. 5 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:48,560 What's interesting is I was thinking through this week on the message, because there's 6 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:53,040 a lot of Christmas messages you can pull out of scripture. 7 00:00:53,040 --> 00:01:03,040 This happens to be our songs, again, by the guiding of the Holy Spirit, which is amazing. 8 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:08,700 Here we are talking about the glory of God and not letting distractions remove us from 9 00:01:08,700 --> 00:01:12,040 those truths. 10 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,320 So let's pray. 11 00:01:14,320 --> 00:01:20,480 Ask God to guide the words that are coming out of my mouth for His honor and glory and 12 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:27,560 that our hearts have been prepared to receive what He has for us today as we get through 13 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:28,560 the rest of this service. 14 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:32,360 Father, I want to thank you so much for your faithfulness and goodness. 15 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:34,320 Thank you for your word. 16 00:01:34,320 --> 00:01:36,200 You are good. 17 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:38,680 You are the God of all creation. 18 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:45,040 You gave one way to salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ. 19 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:55,840 And this is the beginning of the promise fulfilled, the way, the way by which you bring the good 20 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:58,700 news to the whole world. 21 00:01:58,700 --> 00:02:12,200 So Lord, I pray as we go out into the world that we would be confident in the truth of 22 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:18,480 Christ, the gospel, and that everyone that we would come in contact with, very similar, 23 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:23,320 Lord, to the shepherds, that we would proclaim the good news. 24 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:31,500 Lord, help us to sing aloud as the hosts of heaven sung, glory to God in the highest. 25 00:02:31,500 --> 00:02:39,960 May we be willing to scream from the rooftops to tell it on the mountain. 26 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:46,080 I pray that you are honored and glorified, and Lord, help us to love you supremely. 27 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:52,440 May the whole full counsel of your word be spoken today, and I pray, Lord, that your 28 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:59,160 people's hearts have prepared themselves to receive the manna that you have given us for 29 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:00,160 this day. 30 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,560 Lord, we praise you and thank you in Jesus' name. 31 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:03,560 Amen. 32 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:06,960 Luke chapter 2, verse 8 through 21. 33 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:12,440 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their 34 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:16,200 flock by night. 35 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:24,840 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. 36 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,760 That is amazing. 37 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:37,760 Now, Old Testament context would kind of show us some things here. 38 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:47,040 Think about what happens when the glory of the Lord shows up. 39 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:48,960 When in the Old Testament did they show up? 40 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:55,880 So I want you to think about this statement, because this is God's glory, deserving to 41 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:57,960 him and him alone. 42 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:02,200 So let's keep reading. 43 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:10,200 And they were filled with great fear, and the angel said to them, fear not, for behold 44 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:16,400 I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 45 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:25,000 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. 46 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:31,200 And this will be a sign for you, you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and 47 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,260 lying in a manger. 48 00:04:33,260 --> 00:04:39,080 And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host. 49 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,920 I want to read that again. 50 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:51,180 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying, 51 00:04:51,180 --> 00:05:00,000 Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. 52 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:06,860 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, let us 53 00:05:06,860 --> 00:05:15,120 go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known 54 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,320 to us. 55 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:20,280 Monkey wrench number two. 56 00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:24,760 I love monkey wrenches. 57 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:27,560 We won't spend a lot of time on that, but I'm just saying. 58 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:28,560 All right. 59 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:29,560 Here we go. 60 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:35,320 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. 61 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:40,360 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told to them concerning 62 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:42,000 this child. 63 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:50,480 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them, but Mary treasured up 64 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:55,560 all these things, pondering them in her heart. 65 00:05:55,560 --> 00:06:03,340 And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen 66 00:06:03,340 --> 00:06:10,760 as it had been told to them. 67 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:12,040 Shining story. 68 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:20,560 Now many probably look at the movies and you guys have rehearsed this moment that there 69 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:29,240 happens to be this one moment, a shining light, and in every movie I've ever watched there's 70 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:32,520 angels speaking. 71 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:43,300 But here in this particular reality of truth when you read, take the time, we see an angel. 72 00:06:43,300 --> 00:06:53,240 The question of the day is, is it an angel or the angel? 73 00:06:53,240 --> 00:07:01,360 I've done some research quite a bit on word study on this and the word and is not present. 74 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:03,120 Anything enough. 75 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:12,240 So the word ho, this that meaning the, is. 76 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:14,760 So what's that mean? 77 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,120 So let's look at the context of this. 78 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,240 But I don't want you to miss the whole principle. 79 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:26,280 The main part of this story is not this moment when the shepherds come face to face to the 80 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:30,240 reality of the chief shepherd. 81 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:40,260 It's this moment when they go as a result of the impact of the good news in their life. 82 00:07:40,260 --> 00:07:45,820 This is what happens when a heart is changed. 83 00:07:45,820 --> 00:07:50,880 That's the moment of the story. 84 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:55,380 They come face to face with the savior of the world wrapped in swaddling clothes and 85 00:07:55,380 --> 00:08:05,120 what was told to them was so impactful that they go and they share this news with everyone. 86 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:06,600 Why the shepherds? 87 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:13,520 See, most people when they have important news to tell others, there's typically nothing 88 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:19,680 to stop them from letting everyone they know about it. 89 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,560 It's God we got to tell you. 90 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:26,240 This is good news. 91 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:27,240 Everybody's like this. 92 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:32,600 I haven't met any person that's like, I got great news and I'm just going to keep it to 93 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:33,600 myself. 94 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:38,120 It's just in the heart of man I think. 95 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:47,760 But when there is good news like this, like this news at this moment, many celebrate it 96 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:51,720 and tell everyone about it, even strangers. 97 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:56,760 That's what happens when you have good news, this kind of news. 98 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:59,360 This is the greatest news of all time. 99 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:05,500 This moment in world history was critical. 100 00:09:05,500 --> 00:09:14,600 This is a pinnacle moment and God has chosen to reveal the truth of this moment in this 101 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:15,820 way. 102 00:09:15,820 --> 00:09:18,040 We have to pay attention to it. 103 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:21,460 We can't miss the point of this moment. 104 00:09:21,460 --> 00:09:22,460 What we do? 105 00:09:22,460 --> 00:09:23,460 Why? 106 00:09:23,460 --> 00:09:29,120 Because we get wrapped up in the Christmas moment instead of wrapped up in the gospel 107 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:31,320 moment. 108 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:39,960 The announcement to all creation that the king was born and God himself had come to 109 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,120 save his people. 110 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:49,080 That's the announcement that they got from the angel and from the multitude of angels 111 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:52,200 present. 112 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:55,200 Glory to God in the highest. 113 00:09:55,200 --> 00:10:01,400 This promise that was made at the fall, I will put an enmity between you and the woman 114 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:06,640 between her seed and your seed and he will crush your head but you will bruise his heel 115 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:12,480 or he will bruise your head and you will bruise his heel depending on your translation. 116 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:17,180 The reality of this moment has now been fulfilled. 117 00:10:17,180 --> 00:10:22,880 This is the savior himself, the God of all creation born and that the promise that this 118 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:27,720 child would be born of a virgin has been completed. 119 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:33,960 He's born and he's born wrapped in claws that you wrap your sheep in. 120 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:43,320 Happened to be born in the city where sheep of sacrifice were brought. 121 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:51,920 Happened to be born and laid in a trough, a manger which is actually a stone, youned 122 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:55,160 out for water. 123 00:10:55,160 --> 00:11:00,920 That the God of everlasting water is laying in a manger who is also the rock of your salvation. 124 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:08,000 It's not by coincidence it happens to be this particular manger. 125 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:18,080 In a house, not a hotel, not a motel, an inn which is the bottom of a home where shepherds 126 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:25,200 would live because they would bring their sheep in, protect them. 127 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:30,400 Just happened to be that time of year it was safe for them to wander and go out into the 128 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:33,280 fields at night. 129 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:35,320 Interesting. 130 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:42,080 Freedom, this is what I think, I want you to think about this proclamation. 131 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:44,920 It's like freedom is at hand. 132 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:52,060 The promised Messiah who has come to set you free is here. 133 00:11:52,060 --> 00:11:58,600 The promise has been fulfilled and the angels say go and find the child wrapped in swaddling 134 00:11:58,600 --> 00:11:59,600 clothes. 135 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:04,560 Come and see the same response that Jesus has with his disciples when he meets them 136 00:12:04,560 --> 00:12:05,840 for the first time. 137 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:06,840 Come and see. 138 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:08,520 Where are you staying? 139 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:09,520 Come and see. 140 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:17,240 Have you ever noticed that every gospel moment throughout scripture is a come and see moment? 141 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:21,580 Why the shepherds? 142 00:12:21,580 --> 00:12:27,800 Because the chief shepherd had come to the shepherds. 143 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:30,180 We read that last week, did we not? 144 00:12:30,180 --> 00:12:42,280 And Jesus prayed for his disciples that the father would keep shepherd, guard, keep watch 145 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:43,800 over his people. 146 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:46,960 Do you see the heart of Jesus here? 147 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:50,160 It's the constant shepherding moment. 148 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:54,260 How can we miss this moment in the scripture? 149 00:12:54,260 --> 00:12:58,800 Because we're wrapped up in the story of Christmas. 150 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:09,720 We're wrapped up in the excitement of the moment and the Hollywood of this time of year 151 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:12,520 that we miss some very important things. 152 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:14,960 So I want you to kind of think through this. 153 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:20,200 This is going to be a little bit challenging. 154 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:21,440 Principle number one. 155 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:29,720 When God gives good news, it is worthy of the highest exaltation. 156 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:33,000 When God gives good news, it is worthy of the highest exaltation. 157 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,920 Now I want you to get this. 158 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:43,600 The greatest gift given to mankind is worthy of all creation and all the heavenly host 159 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:46,080 to sing praises. 160 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:54,920 The question is, who delivered this good news? 161 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:57,040 Verse eight, we're going to go through each verse again. 162 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:03,400 And in the same region, there were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their 163 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:05,480 flock by night. 164 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:10,760 Same word in John 17, just letting you know. 165 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:19,640 And here it says, an angel of the Lord appeared to them. 166 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:28,220 Is it an angel or is it the angel? 167 00:14:28,220 --> 00:14:37,600 Because every time an angel shows up, they declare who they are to man. 168 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:46,200 But any time in the scripture you see the angel of the Lord appeared to them, it's 169 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:49,400 expected that they know. 170 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:57,540 And the response that these shepherds have is the same response to everyone who comes 171 00:14:57,540 --> 00:15:06,080 face to face with a theophany response. 172 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:08,040 I want you to think about this. 173 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:22,040 Who better than to proclaim the good news than maybe, just maybe, the God of all creation? 174 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:26,360 I'm going to give you more as we think through this process. 175 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:27,360 And this is quite different. 176 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:29,040 I trust me, I know. 177 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:33,400 It says, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. 178 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:36,760 The glory of what? 179 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:41,920 Ah, how could we miss that? 180 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,760 Everybody thinks this, oh, the glory of the Lord is just a shining light. 181 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:50,640 No, this is the glory of God there. 182 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:53,240 This is not the glory of the angelic beings. 183 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:58,540 This is the glory of the Lord. 184 00:15:58,540 --> 00:16:07,720 This is an important moment, so important that when he enters into world history, the 185 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:14,300 proclamation of himself is done with a purposeful intent. 186 00:16:14,300 --> 00:16:21,120 God is purposefully attentive in what he's about to do here. 187 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:25,400 Wow. 188 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,400 What a beautiful day. 189 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:32,640 And the scripture says, and they were filled with great fear. 190 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:39,720 Now, if you remember, the reason why I think people get this mixed up a little bit is because 191 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:44,480 there's this moment that Mary asks when Gabriel shows up. 192 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:49,360 And we know it's Gabriel because God actually says, hey. 193 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:50,760 I mean, Gabriel says, hey. 194 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:53,920 I'm like, I'm Gabriel. 195 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:59,000 And it's so shocking that she's like afraid. 196 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:02,920 And he says, Mary, don't be afraid. 197 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:04,960 It's okay. 198 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:07,200 Don't be afraid, Mary. 199 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:14,240 But here, I want you to notice what verse 10 says. 200 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:20,080 And the angel said to them, fear not. 201 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:22,080 Doesn't that sound like the Lord? 202 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:25,680 Isn't that what he says to his disciples? 203 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:29,200 Fear not, I'm with you. 204 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:31,280 It's okay. 205 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:37,080 They're so afraid, greatly afraid, that the angel said to them, now understand this word 206 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:42,320 angel, and this is where I think a lot of people get it messed up, is the word angelos, 207 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:47,040 or ang-el-os, depending on how good your Greek is. 208 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:51,840 And that word literally just means messenger. 209 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:54,280 That's all it means. 210 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:56,360 Okay? 211 00:17:56,360 --> 00:18:02,680 And this is what the messenger says, fear not, behold, I bring you good news of great 212 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:08,040 joy that will be for all the people. 213 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:13,040 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior who is Christ the Lord. 214 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:18,600 And you're probably going to ask, well, how can it be Jesus if Jesus is born? 215 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:30,200 Well, I never said it was Jesus, because if you read the story in Genesis 19, Abraham 216 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:40,760 is confronted with a theophany, where the persons of God stand before him, and he has 217 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:42,720 a wonderful conversation. 218 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:47,480 Abraham, go do what you said. 219 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:51,600 The scripture says, and they said, do as you said. 220 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:52,600 Go get my food. 221 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:57,040 We'll sit down, we'll have a nice little conversation. 222 00:18:57,040 --> 00:19:05,440 There are moments throughout world history, biblical history, when a theophany appears. 223 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:09,780 Moses in the burning bush. 224 00:19:09,780 --> 00:19:12,260 Is that not an important news? 225 00:19:12,260 --> 00:19:16,920 Why would God send an angel there? 226 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:23,840 How come every time there's an important message that has to be spoken to a people, God shows 227 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:26,160 up? 228 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:28,120 Very interesting. 229 00:19:28,120 --> 00:19:31,840 Just some thoughts to think about as you guys are thinking through the scripture, and as 230 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:36,880 you're thinking about Christmas, how important this moment in world history is. 231 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:42,640 Out of all of the things we know, according to 1 Corinthians chapter 15, what the most 232 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:44,840 important thing is. 233 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:45,840 What is it? 234 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:50,040 The gospel. 235 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:55,160 First Corinthians 15 verses 1 through 4, we know. 236 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:58,400 Why would God not do this with the shepherds too? 237 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:03,000 Why would he change? 238 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:10,040 Verse 11, he says, for unto you was born this day in the city David, a savior who is Christ 239 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:12,360 the Lord. 240 00:20:12,360 --> 00:20:23,840 Would this angelic, this messenger be a theophany? 241 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:29,400 And this is what it says, and this will be a sign for you, you will find a baby wrapped 242 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:33,520 in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. 243 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:35,680 What an amazing moment. 244 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:41,840 Now granted, I think there are many that would say, well, that doesn't kind of fit the whole 245 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:42,840 story. 246 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:51,400 But remember, you're taking a story that is found in Matthew and in Luke only. 247 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:56,040 And you're combining all that information to come to one conclusion. 248 00:20:56,040 --> 00:21:02,400 When if you read chapter 2 of Luke, and the clarity by which it is spoken, you clearly 249 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:08,200 start to see there's a much bigger important message here. 250 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:09,480 Principle number 2. 251 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:17,640 So the praise and song that changed everything, this one declaration in verse 14, when God 252 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:22,400 keeps his promises, the whole world knows about it. 253 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:36,580 And suddenly there with the angel, with the messenger, a multitude of heavenly hosts praising 254 00:21:36,580 --> 00:21:45,360 God and saying, glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace among those whom he is 255 00:21:45,360 --> 00:21:46,360 pleased. 256 00:21:46,360 --> 00:21:53,200 You ever notice this when you've read this, or have we have always assumed that he's just 257 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:56,120 one angel among many? 258 00:21:56,120 --> 00:22:00,160 Or could this be Gabriel? 259 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,000 I don't know if the language implies that. 260 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:10,720 But interesting enough, if it is a theophany, or if it's not a theophany, it doesn't change 261 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:15,920 the impact of the reality of what happens here. 262 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:23,520 I'm just very careful not to give God's glory away, which belongs to him and him alone. 263 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:28,720 Teaching the full counsel of God is very important. 264 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:34,840 Why is this word, glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace among those whom he is 265 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:37,300 pleased? 266 00:22:37,300 --> 00:22:39,560 Very important statement here first. 267 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:43,080 To God and God alone be glory. 268 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:45,440 That's what he's saying here. 269 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:50,760 That's what the multitude of heavenly hosts are praising God, singing here. 270 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:52,360 Glory to God in the highest. 271 00:22:52,360 --> 00:22:57,160 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. 272 00:22:57,160 --> 00:22:59,520 This is what he's saying here. 273 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:03,220 The God of all creation deserves glory. 274 00:23:03,220 --> 00:23:14,280 Only he alone who is the El Shaddai, the Adonai, he alone deserves the glory. 275 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:17,320 But what have we done during Christmas? 276 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:23,760 We have removed the glory of God from this moment because we get wrapped up and too busy 277 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:33,760 with the stuff that's around us that we forget who this is really all about. 278 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:45,840 And the glory of God, he brings upon the earth by declaring peace among those with whom he 279 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:48,800 is pleased. 280 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:57,840 Now some translations would say peace on earth and goodwill to men. 281 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:06,080 No, it's actually peace on earth and among those whom he is pleased. 282 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:09,120 Who is he pleased? 283 00:24:09,120 --> 00:24:10,600 Who is he pleased with? 284 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:12,080 His people. 285 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:17,200 Why did he come to the shepherds? 286 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:21,760 They're his people. 287 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:24,080 There is people. 288 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:29,200 Principle number three, there is only one response to be made at this moment. 289 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:33,960 That is go tell it on a mountain and shout it from the rooftops. 290 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:37,560 Look at what the shepherds do. 291 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:43,140 When verse 15 through 20, when the angels went away. 292 00:24:43,140 --> 00:24:52,400 This is one of the reasons why many would teach or declare that this particular angel, 293 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:58,880 this messenger who came and shared this news has to be an angel. 294 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:10,960 Because this word here, when the angelos went away from them into heaven. 295 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:11,960 Could it be multiple? 296 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:16,800 It is multiple when you read the previous verses. 297 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:19,960 So they imply that maybe this is them. 298 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:22,980 Or could it be the theophany? 299 00:25:22,980 --> 00:25:27,800 Or could it be just Gabriel among many other angels? 300 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:32,360 I'm going to let you dig this out a little bit. 301 00:25:32,360 --> 00:25:34,760 I know where I stand on it. 302 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:36,720 Why? 303 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:41,740 Because God and God alone deserves all the glory at this moment. 304 00:25:41,740 --> 00:25:44,600 And I'm not willing to share his glory with anyone else. 305 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:50,160 The shepherds said to one another, let us go over to Bethlehem and see the thing that 306 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:59,720 has happened which the Lord has made known to us. 307 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:03,720 This is very clear in the language here. 308 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:07,100 This is not which the angels have made known to us. 309 00:26:07,100 --> 00:26:10,480 This is which the Lord has made known to us. 310 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:13,800 Man, we got this news from God. 311 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:15,680 We need to go. 312 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:18,600 Let's prove this out. 313 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:22,840 Let's go see. 314 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:31,680 Verse 16, and they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger, 315 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:34,720 just as he had said. 316 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:39,840 And when they saw it, they made known the same that had been told to them concerning 317 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:41,640 this child. 318 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:45,640 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 319 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:52,920 Now I want you to get this moment because now it makes this one statement in verse 19 320 00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:58,760 so much more impactful. 321 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:09,160 Because if this was some type of maybe angelic moment, she's already had one of those. 322 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:17,000 But if this is Jesus or this is the Holy Spirit or if this is God the Father, if this is a 323 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:23,280 theophany, wouldn't it make Mary think a little bit deeper? 324 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:25,880 And that's what verse 19 says. 325 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:29,760 These little verses are purposeful. 326 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:40,960 God is amazing in His intent in this moment, but Mary treasured up all these things, pondering 327 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:44,840 them in her heart. 328 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:49,060 Wow. 329 00:27:49,060 --> 00:27:53,840 She was in awe. 330 00:27:53,840 --> 00:28:00,360 That the God of all creation, she birthed and is laying right there. 331 00:28:00,360 --> 00:28:12,280 And yet could the God of all creation just told these shepherds to go and see? 332 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:15,040 What a treasure of truth. 333 00:28:15,040 --> 00:28:19,800 What a treasure. 334 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:24,520 Could it just be? 335 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:30,920 Verse 20, and the shepherds returned as a result of all that they experienced. 336 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:37,960 Look what it says, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen as 337 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:43,480 it had been told to them. 338 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:45,560 What do you think a shepherd's going to go and do? 339 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:51,960 He's going to go tell everybody this is the impact of the gospel, the reality of the living 340 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:55,920 coming in contact with the living God. 341 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:58,680 Could this be? 342 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:00,360 Could this be that amazing moment? 343 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:03,200 And trust me, I was praying. 344 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:08,080 I'm like, Lord, are we really going to talk about this? 345 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:14,020 And I was really thinking about a different part of the, it didn't go that way. 346 00:29:14,020 --> 00:29:15,760 And I'm okay with that. 347 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:24,960 Because what a powerful, amazing, omnipresent God we have. 348 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:34,320 Do we miss the omnipresence of the holy God of all creation in this moment? 349 00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:42,640 Do we really think that the triune God who was present at creation, who had chased away 350 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:52,480 the darkness, the or, when the or, which is known as the foes in the New Testament, when 351 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:58,760 the foes comes into his creation, that the father and the Holy Spirit wouldn't be present? 352 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:07,520 If he was present creating the world, I have to assume he might just be present here too. 353 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:16,840 And the light of all creation enters into man's human world to chase away the darkness 354 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:19,680 of your sin. 355 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:26,840 Is it not God's right and responsibility to his promise to proclaim that for himself? 356 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:29,320 I believe so. 357 00:30:29,320 --> 00:30:32,060 I believe so. 358 00:30:32,060 --> 00:30:35,040 I know this is quite different. 359 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:39,760 But God's glory is too important. 360 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:47,000 And I was like, Lord, this is a heavy truth. 361 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:53,040 My glory, it's his glory, belongs to no one but him. 362 00:30:53,040 --> 00:30:54,800 I'm okay with that. 363 00:30:54,800 --> 00:31:02,080 So as you think about this Christmas day, this Christmas Eve, as you go into tomorrow 364 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:11,080 celebrating the first coming of our Lord God, our King, and how he has chosen in all creation 365 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:17,780 to proclaim to the creation of the world, I am here, glory to God in the highest. 366 00:31:17,780 --> 00:31:20,480 I am the peace giver. 367 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:24,000 The Prince of Peace has entered the world. 368 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:26,160 I want you to think about that. 369 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:30,120 Could this be? 370 00:31:30,120 --> 00:31:40,120 Could this just be the angel of the Lord and not an angel of the Lord? 371 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:50,520 I would contend in my opinion that Old Testament context and New Testament context of the presence 372 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:54,880 of the word of God is clear. 373 00:31:54,880 --> 00:32:02,520 The hard part is, are we willing to submit to it? 374 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:05,280 I struggled with that. 375 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:10,880 This changes a lot in how I look at God. 376 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:24,440 The only thing I can do in my heart is prostrate before him in awe and wonder and say to him, 377 00:32:24,440 --> 00:32:32,440 glory to God in the highest and peace among those whom he has pleased. 378 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:40,200 Father, I want to thank you for this amazing story, the reality of the impact of the gospel 379 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:41,740 and the life of these shepherds. 380 00:32:41,740 --> 00:32:48,380 This moment in all creation, this one moment in world history, Lord, you have come in and 381 00:32:48,380 --> 00:32:57,760 declared your presence among your people that you have chosen through your purpose and plan 382 00:32:57,760 --> 00:33:01,720 and promise to tabernacle among your people. 383 00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:09,640 There is no one else in all of creation who deserves that proclamation and truth but you. 384 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:19,000 Lord, I pray that we reflect on the deepness of the truth of this intentional moment in 385 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:23,680 world history. 386 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:33,640 When light came into the world and darkness has not understood it, but to those who call 387 00:33:33,640 --> 00:33:47,840 on you, to those whom you have saved, you have given us the right to be called children 388 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:48,840 of God. 389 00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:49,840 We thank you and praise you. 390 00:33:49,840 --> 00:34:04,840 In Jesus' name, amen.