An Angelic Announcement
The Cast of Christmas • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
a (KJV)
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written ...
(KJV)
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
It was a Hasty Message — (Vs. 9)
It was a Hasty Message — (Vs. 9)
“came upon” — (Greek - ephistemi) — speaks of persons coming upon one suddenly
Not only did the Angel come upon these Shepherds quickly but if you look down in vs. 13 it says that “suddenly” there was with him a multitude of other angels praising God and then in the very next verse the angels are gone!
All of the verbiage that is used in this verse points to it being a fairly quick affair!
In 6 short verses, the greatest message this world would ever hear gets delivered!
It doesn’t take an “all nighter” as one might call Paul’s message that we looked at Wednesday night to get the point across! Sometimes God just wants us to deliver the simplest of messages, Amen!
Jonah & Ninevah — “Yet 40 days and Ninevah shall be overthrown!” — 8 words and an entire city turned to God!
It was a Heavenly Message — (Vs. 9)
It was a Heavenly Message — (Vs. 9)
The word “sore” comes from the Greek word “megas” which is where we get our English word “mega”.
phobeō
(phobeō). vb. to fear, be afraid. Refers to the state of being afraid or the experience of becoming frightened.
This word “phobeo” is where we get our English word “Phobia” which is something we greatly fear.
These men were terrified
It was a Heavenly Message
It was a Heavenly Message
King James Version Chapter 9
The jpeople that walked in darkness have seen a great light:
They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
For over 300 years the presence of God had disappeared amongst His people. There are no records of Angels on the scene, there are no records of God speaking to His people through any prophets or even on His own. This had to be one of the worst times in the history of mankind! Most people refer to the dark ages as the time period of 500 A.D. to 1500 A.D. but dear friend this, in my opinion had to be one of the darkest times this world has ever seen!
And then out of nowhere we see Gabriel, the mighty messenger of God, show up not once, not twice but three times prior to this relaying a message to Zacharias, Mary and the Bible doesn’t specify but since he was the one to deliver the message to the first two it only seems fitting that he’d also be the one to deliver the message to Joseph and now to these shepherds!
All of a sudden we have someone, who stands in the presence of God, grace the pages of history once again with a message for a bunch of lowly shepherds watching over their herds at night!
(KJV)
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
King James Version Chapter 2
glory of the Lord shone round about them
The Bible says there that...“the glory of the Lord shone round about them”
It was a Happy Message
It was a Happy Message
It was a Heavenly Message
It was a Heavenly Message
(KJV)
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
(KJV)
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
It was a Happy Message
It was a Happy Message
It was a Hair-Raising Message — (Vs. 9)
It was a Hair-Raising Message — (Vs. 9)
The word “sore” comes from the Greek word “megas” which is where we get our English word “mega”.
(phobeō). vb. to fear, be afraid. Refers to the state of being afraid or the experience of becoming frightened.
This word “phobeo” is where we get our English word “Phobia” which is something we greatly fear.
It was a Happy Message
It was a Happy Message
It was a Happy Message — (Vs. 10 & 11)
It was a Happy Message — (Vs. 10 & 11)
“good tidings” = “good news”
“great” joy = “mega”
“to all people!”
(KJV)
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
(KJV)
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
(KJV)
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
(KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
No greater message can we take to a lost and dying world than a message of happiness and joy embedded with the good news of Jesus Christ!
No greater message can we take to a lost and dying world than a message of happiness and joy embedded with the good news of Jesus Christ!
(KJV)
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Jesus = an abundant life!
Are you living an abundant life this morning? Do you have a personal relationship with this man named Jesus that I speak of? If not, then friend you know nothing of an abundant life! You are missing out on the true joy that this life holds!
The Angel goes on to say 3 very important things there in Vs. 11. He says that the one that is being born is going to be a Savior, Christ & Lord!
Savior — deliverer, preserver — The Angel of the Lord told Mary, “You shall call him Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins!”
Savior was a name given by people of ancient times deities, princes & kings. Most kings strive to gain power and pomp and Lord over their people but Jesus is the only King known to man that has had it all and been willing to give it all up to become a servant and savior for his people!
How does one become “his people” by accepting him as Christ the Lord! He came to save and all you have to do is let him! If you’re sitting here and lost, why don’t you let him do the very thing he came to do?
Christ — Anointed, Messiah, Chosen One
Lord — Master
It was a Humbling Message
It was a Humbling Message
According to the Mishnah, livestock within a certain circumference of Jerusalem were reserved for sacrifice in the Jerusalem temple. Bethlehem lay within that circumference, and the shepherds may have tended flocks appointed for that purpose.
For the most part, shepherds were written off by the Jewish religious establishment for their failure to keep the Sabbath and all the minute regulations imposed by the ruling Jewish hierarchy.
Their prolonged absences—and ill-repute—disqualified them from being legal witnesses.
Now in the eyes of many, an angel would never appear to a shepherd. In Jesus' day, those who were shepherds were socially looked down upon by those who were religious. The Talmud equated them with the heathen, would not allow them to be witnesses in court, and forbade giving charity to them. They were despised because they were unable to attend services and to keep the ceremonial laws of washing and cleansing. Their flocks kept them so busy that they’d seldom be found praising and worshiping God. They were looked upon as anything but worshipers. Their reputation was lowly at best, and religious people snubbed and ignored them.
A third-century rabbi, commenting on , once said, “There is no more despised occupation in the world than that of shepherds.” Along with gamblers and tax collectors, herdsmen were regularly listed among despised trades by the Mishnah and Talmud.
What a lovely thought that the very shepherds who looked after the sacrificial temple lambs were the first to see the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world.
It was an Honoring Message delivered by a Heavenly Host — (Vs. 13)
It was an Honoring Message delivered by a Heavenly Host — (Vs. 13)
Lexham Theological Wordbook πλῆθος
(plēthos). n. neut. large group, multitude.
This word “plethos” can also mean the whole multitude!
It’s where we get our English word “plethora” from.
Lexham Theological Wordbook στρατιά
(stratia). n. fem. army,
Lexham Theological Wordbook στρατιά
This word means “army.” In the NT, it appears only in references to groups of angelic beings
What an amazing thought to think that the entire army of heaven showed up for the arrival of their King!
It was a Hopeful Message — (Vs. 14)
It was a Hopeful Message — (Vs. 14)
Without Christ we are enemies of God
Without Christ we are enemies of God
(KJV)
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
(KJV)
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
With Christ we have peace with God
(KJV)
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
(KJV)
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
(KJV)
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
(KJV)
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;