LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH
SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 12 DECEMBER 2021 REUBEN LYONS
LUKE 2 VERSES 8 - 20
The world we live is a fallen world but it is a world full of wonders and miraculous events throughout history. We can think of the introduction of the steam engine, the abolition of slavery, the ending of the second world war and man landing on the moon. We can also think of modern tragedies such as 9/11, the Grenfell Tower. These events brought about radical changes. I am sure you could list many more in your own lifetime. Each of these happened on ordinary days just like any other. People were going on with their lives like every other day. When these things were discovered they were eventually recognised by the world. Similar to this passage when Jesus was born. It was like any other night but it became the most important night in all of history, the most important night of the human race. The main group of our focus today are the shepherds. They were doing their job, watching their sheep. King Herod and his kingdom were sleeping in anticipation of the next day to arrive. Herod had no idea that another king was coming into the world. God was transacting heavenly business on earth on that night. Little did the world know that the Saviour was being born in Bethlehem No matter how many times I read of Jesus birth, his death and resurrection it never ceases to amaze me how God's plan is shown through it all. A time of joy. What does this event mean to us today? Each of us have favourite carols that we like to sing. My favourite is O Holy Night.
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth
Long lay the world in sin and darkness pining
Till He appeared, gift of infinite worth
Behold the Babe in yonder manger lowly
'Tis God's own Son come down in human form
Fall on your knees before the Lord most holy
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night divine O night O night divine
That night was filled with messages - verses 8 - 12. The shepherds were minding their sheep. It was their occupation. The angels appeared with a remarkable message. "And the angels said unto them fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people." verse 10 The angel has come from heaven to bring a message of peace, hope and joy. Not just for them and the residents around that area but the entire world, even to us today. Not a message of judgment or condemnation. He came to share a message of peace. He came to deliver a word the world needed so badly. They had been waiting for so long. It was prophesied back in Genesis 3 verse 5. The angel continues to deliver this message. He continues to tell them about the birth of a baby. Would they have paid any notice if a ordinary human messenger had come with the news but this was a heavenly messenger. He states 3 names for this infant - Saviour, Christ and Lord. Why are they so important? We hear them time and time again. What are they really saying to us? They reveal the identity and ministry of the baby being born. Saviour is one we are familiar with. Do we have that Saviour today? New birth in Christ. Matthew 1 verse 21. Jesus came into the world to fulfil the plan of God that we might be saved from our sins, to have this relationship with him. Christ means anointed one. Through that name Jesus identified as the long awaited Messiah the Jews were waiting on for so many years. This was the one prophesied about in the Old Testament. This baby reconciled man to God. He was also given the name Lord. Only a few moments old and he was already over the shepherds and the King Herod. This baby was identified as Lord over all. This means that he is and has always been in control and still is today. This was no ordinary baby and no ordinary birth. The baby was God in human form. John 1 verse 14. This message was filled with hope and peace and filled with salvation to all who believe. This baby was born in a smelly stable and wrapped in rags. He was not dressed in the fine linen of a king or born in a palace. He did not come to say he was better than anyone else. He came as a servant seeking to save those who were lost. He made himself poor so that we might be rich through his grace. He knew what it was to suffer. He knew what it was to do without. No matter our job, our past or who we associate with, we need to depend on God. Our need is God, a relationship with God for every day. Everything we have has been blessed from our father in heaven. He died so that we could identify with him and he could identify with us.
A night of personal ministry. Those shepherds were perched on the hillside. Privileged, enjoying a personal time with angelic blessings. Verse 8 Delivered to a group of people. We don't think of them as outcasts today but rather well respected hard working people caring for animals. In those days they were not welcomed into the temple. They were ceremonially unclean because of their position in society. They were not able to enter in to the temple, they had a low image. God reached into their lives, he picked the most unlikeliest of people - just think of people in the bible who were similarly picked - Abraham, Moses, David, Samuel, Paul, Peter. God reached those lowly men of God with the new message of peace. What a picture of grace. Whatever someone has done in the past there is still hope in Jesus Christ. "For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." The Lord turns no-one away today to receive his amazing grace. No matter what we are doing or who we are associated with never let anyone or any situation get between us and God. The angels told the shepherds this baby was not just for the whole world but for them as individuals. Not just for the wider world, and how the world miscontrues the message of Christmas today, it is a message personal to us. We need to be sure we are saved by grace, are a child of God, walking and serving him as we should in a personal relationship with him. He died for us. He is reaching out to us to reach out to others too. The Christmas message time and time again has personal implications in our lives. While it was given to a group of shepherds good indeed. These tidings were to be heard around the world. They were certainly not the last to hear the good news. They went right out and told others. Verse 17 That continued until you were told one day too. If you look back to your testimony was it by someone who witnessed to you? Or was it someone preaching? Or was it someone who took time to share the gospel message of how God reached them? Why are we so happy to stay comfortable, to not reach out and share what Jesus has done? Your calling is to follow the example that others gave to you, who shared with you the gospel message. The worst position we can be in today is to be too comfortable because then we don't share with others. It is easy to come to church and through the week to our bible study and prayer time but it is a difficult and different story to tell others about Christ. We are called to obey. We need to reach out to others. That is how the gospel is spread today. What started in Behtlehem reached far beyond the confines of their little town. It deserves to be shared with others. It is the power of God unto salvation. Romans 1 verse 16. We are each to be in the business of sharing the gospel message no matter what age or what others might think of us. We should have a burden for lost people today. How often do we get down on our knees and pray for those who pass us on a daily basis, for those we work with? If we don't have that burden we should pray that the Lord gives us that burden, that the Lord would reach into our lives with a burden for the lost.
In verses 13 and 14 we see the heavenly angels magnified the Lord. An anthem of praise. They were exalting their great Saviour. It was amazing that the sinless Lord and creator has been born as a helpless child. God now appeared before their eyes as the weakest of humans. They didn't understand all they saw but they praised him for it. We need to praise God even when we don't understand what is going on in this world. What grace that is. The angels were moved to praise their creator. The shepherds were also moved to Bethlehem. They accepted this message of peace and hope. The shepherds were saved that night. They left the manger as new babes. They had encountered the Saviour and they left not as outsiders and outcasts but as God's children. They went rejoicing. They went with a new joy in their souls. They had never experienced it before. They had found the great Saviour, the resuce plan for mankind. They were filled with joy because of what they witnessed that night. Now they had met Jesus they were never the same again. We should be the same when we meet Jesus. People should recognise that work in our lives. Although they were still shepherds, outcasts in society all that mattered was they had met with Jesus. We can have true joy and happiness if we meet with the master today. No matter what a day may bring we can face it in with Christ. No matter if a day brings sickness or pain.
Verses 17 - 20 a night of immense change. Jesus might have been just a baby but he was already changing lives in that manger. The shepherds were changed. They left praising God. They were no longer the same. Changed from the inside. They were changed into missionaries for the glory of God. Maybe there have been people you know who have been changed by God Every person who meets with Christ and leaves his presence is changed for ever. Christ takes the rough and ruined lives and changes them forever. Everyone who meets Christ falls in love with him. Verse 19 "But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." Mary was changed from that time on. She had already become a believer but as she watched her newborn son receiving worship as God, she would be changed. She would watch him grow strong physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. She would see him eventually die on the cross and rise again from the dead. She would never be the same. She was now the mother of Jesus. Mary was changed. The shepherds were changed. The whole world was changed. What began in the town of Bethlehem never ended and never will. It is an ongoing work of Christ. Jesus grew up, died on Calvary, rose from the dead - anyone who grasps that will be changed for ever. His message and life and death are still changing the world in which we live today. Maybe you are happy as a believer today or maybe you are backslidden. You have never known Christ personally. You have gone through the routine of coming to chuch each week but have never experienced God's life changing power. We need to be like the shepherds, to come and hear the message, accept Christ as Saviour and leave rejoicing in our salvation. Jesus' blood is what cures our sickness of sin. We are heading to a certain death. Jesus' blood guarantees victory and complete healing if we come in dependence on God. He moved heaven and earth to provide a Saviour for the earth. Everything was provided for us so that we might have a Saviour. Have we received that greatest gift today? Let us not take it for granted. He is the best gift we could receive today.
No comments:
Post a Comment