Advent 2024 - Part 2 - A plain Savior for a plain People.

GREET EVERYONE-

If I have not had a chance to meet you; My name is Scott and I am a follower of Jesus and have the privilege of serving Him as the Lead Pastor among the people of Stonewater Fellowship.

Our Collective desire is to See: every follower of Jesus well equipped and fully deployed on the mission of Jesus.

Jesus Mission is the reason we exist -

We exist to engage people into a multiplying - life changing relationship with Jesus!

LETS GRAB OUR BIBLES IF YOU HAVE ONE AND

Open it to Luke Chapter 2 today as we continue into the season of Advent,

a season to prepare our hearts and minds together to celebrate ONE of the two most important events in all of Human history -

The arrival of GOD in the flesh - Who dwelt among us in the person of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER OVER SERIES

Is and will be that as we walk through the Scriptures and messages of Advent that one of two things would happen to us.

ONE - if we are a Jesus follower -

That the Gospel would be renewed in our hearts and minds -

That the need, the severity, the eternity issues of the gospel -

The calling of God, the importance and significance of the Gospel would be renewed in our hearts, minds and in our life and as a result..

we would more and more live for Him.

TWO - if you are here or watching on live stream are not yet saved.

You may even be a person who agrees with the facts of history, with the facts of Christmas,

that Jesus was born

That He lived

Even Maybe That he is the Jesus of the Bible

and as Such, you also believe that and he died for your sins.

or maybe you are a person who just thinks that all of this is just an old story, from an old book from way back when.

Either way - you come to the Christmas things that the local church does Cuz its just what you have always done and it helps you get into the Christmas Spirit.

No matter which - My prayer for you this season is that your heart and mind will hear from the scriptures - and by the Spirit of God, moving in your being - you will be enlightened and illuminated that there is a God - He created you and loves you -

He desires you to trust Him with this life that He gave you and the one would will have after your physical death.

And in this season when you hear of the Love of God -

Gods love would compel you,

Gods love would persuade you to turn your life over to His Son Jesus, Surrender to Jesus

receive Him as Lord, with all your sins forgiven, Filled with his love and forgiveness - Becoming His Child by the adoption of His Spirit, saved from His wrath,

SO that you will begin to walk in the purposes He designed for you in this life which is to represent Jesus and Make Him Known and

so that you will know Him and Enjoy Him forever through His gift of eternal life with Him.

PRAYER OVER MESSAGE

is that we would come to know that Jesus is a plain savior who was sent for a plain people -

And as this is revealed to us or we are are refreashed and renued in that truth

My prayer is that the dividing walls that we have built up,

Any separation from others -

Any Aspect of they and them vs us and we is torn down by what we hear of Jesus from his very beginning.

My prayer is there would be no walls in our lives, and we would see Jesus -

Clearly and openly for who He is and who He was announced to be from the very beginning.

A Savior Plain and simple - Sent for a broken people - Plain simple.

ENGAGEMENT –

Dinner parties are an interesting thing to watch -

This time of year there are lots of them that are given and attended.

Brandi and I had one Friday night and we also had one Last night.

I don’t know if anyone ever has put on a dinner party with out an invitation list.

Invitations that usually say things like -

Here is what is happening -

Here is when its happening -

Here is what we will be doing -

Here is what to bring or not to bring -

Ya know that dinner parties also have an interesting variance to them.

Some dinner parties have pre invitation invitations.

Their called Save the date invitations.

You see some dinner parties are done in such a way that you send to the people you want to come, an invitation that invites them to save the date - SO they don't plan anything else -

And it also tells them they are gonna get another invitation about the event that this invitation is inviting them to save the date for.

And then there are other dinner parties that you might not call dinner parties - you might just call them get togethers -

Where you just kind of invite people after church or what ever over for Dinner next week and its just a phone call or test message invitation and its just people getting together to have dinner and fellowship to connect together.

Here is the funny part - No matter if it is a send invitations to save the date telling people you will invite them to the thing you have invited them to save the date for kind of dinner party -

or its the text invite “hey you guys come over for Dinner this afternoon” kind of Dinner party -

There is one thing that both kind of these dinner parties have in common.

They both have a list of who is invited -

And I think if we think about the characteristics of the “who is invited”

in order to make the list of who...

they have to share some if not all of these characteristics.

and not in any particular order.

They are friends - In other words - We have a relationship with them -

We have previously spent time with them.

We have things in common with them.

This leads us to be comfortable with them.

We are in like stages of life.

Our calendars are easily coordinated -

WE live in the same geographical area -

This make our relationship easy to facilitate and so at many levels they are convenient on our lives.

We have gotten to know them.

Their family

Their Education

Their occupation

Their background and their History.

We might even know their strengths and their weaknesses.

There is a level of trust with them

That leads us to a sense of safety with them.

And we may have been in their life for a while or they have been in our lives for a while and we have weathered some storms together -

Some ups and some downs -

Life changes together -

We also give into this relationship and they give into this relationship and there is back and forth -

You invite to your house and they invite to theirs

the relationship feels VERY Symbiotic.

And so our relationship feels secure - Like its has some depth to it.

And so the people who make the list to be sent the save the date invitations so that we can invite them to the thing we are inviting a lot of people to really have the relational characteristics of Comfort Convince Safety and Security.

and Usually - people we know who don't provide those four things do usually make the list to the dinner party invitation.

TENSION

The problem that this creates when we take these relational characteristics into our relationship with God is it creates in our life is this who’s in and who is out view point,

who is invited and who is not,

Who I will and who I will not talk to about Jesus.

Who I will be OK with and who I wont be OK with in small group.

What house I will and will not go to and knock on the door and invite to the front yard neighborhood out reach, build relationships with or share the gospel with.

Who I will and will not offer to pray for face to face - person to person.

what is even sadder is we really have a tenancy to do, is place a label of “calling” on it which might just be code for - one of the 4 -

I don't feel comfortable - its not convenient - I feel at risk or in danger or my loved ones are in danger or at risk - There is a sense that We are not secure.

How do we know this is the effect of our relationship Culture?

in many ways we have created a “Jesus After” culture with in the church.

And here is what that sounds like and looks like.

I’m Struggling with Addictions - Drugs or Alcohol or Sexual addictions -

OK we love you but you need to Go to the professional world - Receive your healing or deliverance and then you can come AFTER and be a part of the body of Christ.

I am dealing with mental illness -

OK Go to the professionals and when you are fixed and receive you healing - Then come AFTER and be with us.

I have a train wreck of a marriage - ok well go and get that fixed and then you can come AFTER.

and what this does is it makes the church a relationship manifestation of the world instead of the supernatural body of Jesus that they world is being called to run to.

The Beautiful thing about the Christmas Story is the WHO the save the date card that was sent to as the savior who is desperately needed - and Was faithfully promised came into this world.

Jesus - A Plain Savior, Born in Plain circumstances promised to a Plain people, Introduced to and by the Plain people of His day.

Lets look at Luke Chapter 2

BACKGROUND

SO some important back ground about the Gospel of Luke.

Luke was not an original Disciple of Jesus -

When I say Original - What I mean is that Luke was not part of the 12 disciples that would specifically be later named Apostles by Jesus before He ascended into Heaven.

SO you might be asking “how did Luke come to know Jesus?”

So the original 12 were guys called by Jesus personally to leave what they were doing and be with Jesus for three and a half years.

WE have to remember this was not the only people who followed Jesus form time to time.

In the Gospel Narratives there is a story of Jesus sending out 72 disciples, followers, students, in groups of 2 to proclaim the gospel, heal the sick and cast out demons.

and we have to remember that Jesus was a very popular person for most of his time here as God with us.

Large Crowds or 20-30 thousand people would gather around him.

It is Extremely likely that Luke was in some of those crowds and even maybe part of the 72 that were sent out.

As he recorded the 72 for us.

And Luke was certainly in the upper room of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell and the Church was launched and unleashed onto this world

he was also part of the team disciple making team that went with Paul and the others to make disciples and plant churches.

Luke was a doctor - AS such He was a researcher -

He writes His Gospel account and the Book of Acts after doing much research by interviewing those who were apostles as he would leave the medical profession and be on mission with Paul - Peter and team in the book of acts.

TIME LINE

When we get to Luke Chapter 2 Jesus has already arrived - The Manger has already happened - Mary has already given birth

Nobody knows it.

It has not be proclaimed or announced.

The invitation to the Gender Reveal, Baby Shower - Diaper Party - “Baby has arrived” Party have not been sent out.

But they are about to be.

Luke Chapter 2 records for us the very first announcement, save the date - Come and see, come to the dinner party, “Baby Arived Announcent” ever given after the arrival of Jesus.

UNPACKING

Luke 2:8 ESV

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

In the same region - What region?

In the reason of Bethlehem - This is where Jesus was born.

This is also the City of David -

Shepherds out in the fields -

The Same fields where Abraham had tended His families Flock -

The Same fields that King David watched His fathers flocks for years

1st Century Jewish Shepherds were out taking turns watching over their flock.

Here is what is interesting about this part of the story having the receiving people to be these shepherds or herdsmen whose job it was to watch over and protect these sheep.

If you were a herdsman, a shepherd by occupation to watch over live stock you lived in huts in the open air and you lived with other herdsman that is what you did 24 7 365

You watched over other people livestock. Could be sheep - Could be goats = Could be horses or cows -

But here is the interesting part -

Shepherds were not considered people you and I would want to hang around with.

One Author put it this way -

Shepherds represented the meaner demographic elements of the culture of the day.

These guys were separated from normal human community.

they were subjected to suspicion and scorn,

They were excluded from the temple worship as they were considered unclean in every way - Ceremonial - Practical and literal.

They had a reputation of not knowing the difference between Mine and Yours - becasue they would pray on travelers who traveled alone.

They were known as thieves - Suspected constantly of practicing the art of robbery” as one commentator put it.

They were gone for months and years at a time and becasue they had such a Bad reputation they could not even be called as a witness in a court of law.

I guess becasue they were also considered liars who could not be trusted.

A rabbi wrote in the 3rd century:

“there is no more a despised occupation in the world than that of being a Sheppard - It goes right along with gamblers and tax collectors.”

So these are the guys who are out on the fields watching over the sheep that they have been hired to watch over.

Watch what happens.

Luke 2:9 ESV

9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

Now many of us get this Idea of the Angel of the Lord like up in the Sky like huge and overwhelming.

I don’t think so - I think it was very possible these guys were at shift change - hands around the fire pit - Getting a little warmth - and An Angel of the Lord Stood right next to them

Here is the reason I think that - Its in the verse -

The GLORY of the Lord shone around them.

This angel looking being Shows up - Stand right next to them and Light - Bright light is all around them -

and they freak out.

that is what the Bible means when it says they were filled with “great fear”

Watch - They were afraid - WHY

Why were they afraid?

I believe two reasons - First was there was an Angel of the lord Standing right next to them.

This is a Scary thing to have happen!

Every single time you read in your bibles that an angel of the lord shows up.

FEAR - Fear is struck in the heart - EVERY TIME.

The Other reason these guys were afraid - and I think this is true in all of the other times - When the Heavenly Kingdom of God is manifest here on earth - Even in the slightest way - and there is in that event the GLORY of the LORD -

WE become Keenly aware of our Sin

Keenly aware of our Unrighteousness -

Keenly aware of our rebellion against God

Keenly aware of our need of transformation

Keenly Aware of the how much God is about to change things.

And we are afraid.

and they were Filled with GREAT FEAR!

Watch what this angel says:

Luke 2:10 ESV

10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Loved ones - Know this - If you have a spiritual experience where you think that you have encountered an angel -

You need to know how to know if it was sent by God - And angel of the Lord - or a fallen one - known as a demon.

IF you are stuck with fear - the awareness of your own Iniquity - Your own unrighteousness is what you experience and you have to be reminded that perfect love casts out all fear.

and the blood of Jesus took all that away - Probably from God.

If you experience and angel that is light - and is so comforting and tells you that you are loved unconditionally - Just the way you are and there is no sense of being undone like Isaiah was when he found himslef in the presence of GOD, His glory and His Angels -

Then Probably not from the Lord.

SO

This Angle Standing with these shepherds - The Lowest of the Low of the Culture of the Day - These that were unclean in every way - These that had the worst reputation - these that held the lowest occupation.

This angel says - FEAR NOT =

Stop being afraid - I'm not bring wrath - I'm not bringing Condemnation - I'm not bringing the sword -

I'm bring Good News of Great Joy -

Good News - the Gospel - of what? GREAT JOY.

of what?

of what?

Great Joy -

this is important - In the language of the New Testament “

Great - was not a adverb as we read it in the english -

Great was a VERB - Here is what that means - People will be great in their JOY of this good news -

This good news will cause people to be intense in their Joy.

This was a word of action, what people will be - not a word of degree -

and this news that will cause people to be intense about -

It is for Some people?

NOPE

All people!!

VSS 11 - What is the GOOD news that will cause people to be intense in their Joy?

This news that is for ALL PEOPLE everywhere?

Unto you - A Savior is Born!

The Virgin has conceived and the Child has been born - God is now with you in the flesh.

The Prophecy of Isaiah that you have been waiting 700 ears to come true has been fulfilled -

Savior -

The one who saves -

The one who delivers -

the one who rescues -

The one who heals -

the one who sets free -

the one who secures life -

That is what the Original Language of the New Testament means when it uses the word SAVIOR -

Who IS Christ

Who is the Anointed of God - Who is the Promised one of the ancient of Day - Who IS the holy one of Isreal - Who is the Holy one of Zion.

This is Christ -

The LORD - The ONE who is in charge - Master - Sovereign one over life and death - Ruler -

That is the word LORD.

Then the Angel says -

“Here is what you will see”

and it is almost as if it is implied in in the story - that the angle is saying -

“if you are interested in this savior - is you are compelled by the love that you are experiencing right now that today - the love of God - the love of YHWH has been poured out - and you are drawn to see this incredible phenomenon -

You are certainly invited to go to him! -

This is what you need to look for.

A baby - Wrapped in infant cloths - Swaddling cloths - Lying in a manger.

After the angel was finished talking with these guys then a whole lot of other angels show up and they all were praising GOD -

VSS13-15

Glory to God in the Highest and Peace among those with whom God is pleased.

this is such an important thing to understand in relationship to the Gospel.

The Angels were not declaring that there would be peace on earth between the people of the earth -

WE think that so much - Prince of Peace - like Jesus came here to bring peace between warring people - To bring peace between america and north Korea

Peace between families or adverse relationships.

Loved ones we so miss the point of The Gospel when we think that -

This Peace that Jesus bring is between God and those with Whom God is pleased.

it is the reconciliation of God and sinners - Rebels against God Enemies of God that this Child in the manger - This promised one of Isreal brings.

VVS15

Whoosh the angels are Gone -

The Shepherds then have a decision to make - What to do now with this good news?

They hear the invitation of the Angels - You wanna see this child this savior then this is what you need to look for?

They make the decision and they GO - They Go and find

watch what happens -

VVS 17

Luke 2:17 ESV

17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

When they saw the Manger - When they saw Mary and Joseph -

When They Saw - they SPOKE -

They made known what was told to them about the child -

As if Mary and Joseph and everyone involved in this story had no idea.

look at verse 18

Luke 2:18 ESV

18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

They WONDERED -

Love ones that does not mean they thought about it - it does not mean they contemplated - IS this true or not -

Wondered means they were in complete and total amazement -

This is Christ - The Anointed one of God this is the Savior - This is the savior we all needed and this is the savior that YHWH promised.

and they were in amazement -

Mary Ponders these things - Mary - Jesus earthly mother - take this information that the shepherds have just told her and she ponders them -

Here is what that means - In the very moment of seeing her new born child that was delivered to her as promised through the prophets.

She hears that He is the Promised one of Isreal - The Anointed of God - The Savior Rescuer healer and deliverer and she ponders - Which means She looked at her child - miraculously conceived in her and she thought about all of the implications of what that meant for the Child that God had brought into this wield.

VSS20

The Shepherds go back to being shepherds but this time -

Things and life were different -

This time they go Back to what they were doing and they Glorified God meaning they were revealing God in Everything and they were also Praising God.

They were representing Christ and making Him known.

THE GOSPEL CONNECTION

Loved ones this is the Gospel - This is the phenomenal part of Jesus coming into this world.

The Announcement did not go to the Kings - It did not go to the wealthy or the powerful or the proud or the satisfied

or the righteous or the pure or the magnanimous or the talented -

The Announcement that this Savior was finally here was given to the the lowest of the low in that culture.

It was given to those who not only desperately needed it but who knew they desperately did.

but this is the Gospel -

All of us - Born enemies of God - Rebels all wanting to be like God and in Control -

Every single one of us natural born enemies of God -

Every one of us with the potential Character of the despised shepherds of this true and real story.

What does this part of the Christmas Story - the Gospel needs to do to us and stir in us?

APPLICATION

Let us erase any aspect of who we will and who we wont tell of this great savior -

Let us look and our past and if by mere accident we have set boundaries or borders on who we have invited in or maybe there are people we have thought they need to go and then after they can come.

Get rid of that - Get rid of the relationship boundaries of Comfort, convenience, safety and security and invite the shepherds of our culture into relationship with us to hear and know of this child in the manger.

After all The Scripture Promises salvation and then asks such important questions?

Romans 10:13–17 ESV

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Let us be moved by the love of God !

Let us be compelled by the Love of God that when we hear and Sing the great song of Christmas “Go tell it on the mountain”

That is what we do not just another song we sing.

Let this part of the story remind us that we too were once the lowest of the low without Jesus and He came to us and changed us and did what He was promised to do in our lives.

He reconciled us to the Father - Transforming us from death to life -

SO that we may live for Him, For his glory - Representing Him and making Him known becasue, child in the manger - He died for us.

PRAYER TEAM