The Faithful Ones

Intro: “When we’re faithful to God it means that we trust that He will care for us, we follow where He leads, we are loyal to His purpose, and we love Him in return.”

I’m reminded of a story about a Church play that had children as the main characters of the Christmas story… The Church Secretary gave the cast of Characters “Mary, played by Sally, Joseph played by George, the Shepherds, Billy, Sam, Junior, Angels, Mary, Ann, Beth, and Jesus… a 60 watt light bulb.”

I. Ordinary People Extraordinary Message

a. Vs 8 “And there were Shepherds living out in the fields...”

b. In Luke’s Gospel, shepherds are the first to hear about the birth of Jesus.

c. Being a shepherd in the first century was not considered a privileged position in society.

i. They lived out in the fields

ii. They smelled like sheep

iii. They were nomads with no home

d. This shows that the message of Jesus was for all people, even those considered to be insignificant, the disregarded, forgotten, the overlooked,

e. Sometimes God’s work goes on quietly in hidden places.

f. In 1994, two Christian missionaries answered an invitation to go to Russa. Their task to teach morals and ethics… in a State Run Orphanage… They told them the familiar story of Christmas. When the story was finished, they gave the children three small pieces of cardboard for the manger some colored paper to tear into strips for straw, small pieces of cloth for “swaddling clothes” . A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt… The children enjoyed the small project… Misha finished his, as the Missionary looked into the tiny scene what he saw shocked him… Misha had two babies in the manger… Quickly Interpreter was called over, Misha repeated the story He had heard… Misha said "And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him… But I have nothing to give you Jesus, Jesus said keep me warm, that would be enough… As little Misha finished his story, Sir that was all I wanted to stay with Jesus For Always.

II. Ordinary Experience Extraordinary Visitors

a. Vs9 “ An Angel appeared to them...”

b. “In Rick Warren’s Book The Purpose of Christmas He points out that in our Word, 365 Times The Spirit inspired the authors to write “ “Don’t be afraid” or Fear Not… 1 for every time of the year.

c. In a survey of 1000 people nearly a third of those questioned stated that, of all the people mentioned in the Christmas story, they identified the most with the shepherds. They were your average, ordinary, everyday working people and were invited to see the birth of the King of kings and hear the voice of the Heavenlies.

d. God is not a God of isolation. He seeks to involve himself with us, with His creation. The birth of the Son of God involves the response of all the parts of creation, from those who tend sheep to those who watch over them from the heavens

III. The Ordinary Delivered An Amazing Testimony

a. Vs16-20 “When they had seen Him, they spread the word...”

b. Max Lucado, in His book Applause of Heaven speaks about the place the Shepherds had been led by the Angels "A small cathedral outside Bethlehem marks the supposed birthplace of Jesus. Behind a high altar in the church is a cave, a little cavern lit by sliver lamps. You can enter the main edifice and admire the ancient church. You can also enter the quiet cave where a star embedded in the floor recognizes the birth of the King. There is one stipulation, however. You have to stoop. The door is so low you can’t go in standing up.

c. The same is true of Jesus . You can see the world standing tall, - - but to witness the Savior, you have to get on your knees. So. . . . . while the theologians were sleeping, and the elite were dreaming, and the successful were snoring, the meek shepherds were kneeling. They were kneeling before the One only the meek will see. They were kneeling in front of Jesus."

The Shepherd’s journey to see these things should be every person’s journey to see what God is up to in Jesus.