A Divine Invasion

Introduction

Church, we are continuing our series, “The Coming of Jesus, the Son of Man!” We have walked through angelic visitations, prophetic declarations, and miraculous conceptions. Barrenness to breakthroughs.

Where there was once 400 years of silence, God invaded that silence.

Before we go any further, I want to anchor this message with two scriptures:

Psalm 18:9 “He bowed the heavens also, and came down: And darkness was under his feet.”

Micah 7:8 “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: When I fall, I shall arise; When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.”

Riff Hook:

“He came down.” He came down for us.

“Heaven bent low.” The weight of His majesty bent the heavens.

“God steps into the dark.” In his presence is light.

“The Lord is my light in the night.”

Church, I am talking about when God invades the night.

Darkness is under his feet. My God is a light unto me. When I fall, I shall arise. When I sit in darkness, the Light of God is with me.

I am talking about divine invasion. “The Lord is my light in the night.”....

Luke 2:8 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”

A key phrase.

By night!

Church, God could have chosen the morning. He could have chosen the temple. He could have chosen the priests, but God chose the night.

God chose the fields. God chose the shepherds - the overlooked, the uneducated, the uninvited, the unimportant.

Church, I am here to tell you that God does some of his greatest work at night. He does his greatest work in the places overlooked. With the people others may marginalize.

I am here to tell some of you, that you may be in a season of night. A season where you cannot see the next step. A season where the horizon looks dim. A season where prayers feel unanswered, where hope feels delayed. But God, church, But God invades the night. He does not avoid us in our night places.

When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. Church, I am here to tell someone the Lord is light in the night.

The Bishop brought out - Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.” I love how the Lord is a light unto us, even in the darkest times.

I think of the Valley of the Shadow of Death. I think of how David spent years moving through the Judean wilderness, through the Wadi Qelt (between Jerusalem and Jericho), through the Kidron Valley, through the ravines around En-Gedi and the Dead Sea region.

The valley of the shadow of death had narrow, twisting canyons - sharp bends that blocked visibility, murdered and robbers would hide in these bends. There was only minutes of sunlight per day, deep shadows at noon. And David knew that God was a light unto his path. A light in the night. That when God came down, heavens bent down and darkness was under his feet.

David walked through valleys where sunlight died at noon, but he learned this: when the night closes in, the Word lights up. The shadows may bend the path, but they cannot blind the Shepherd. And sometimes the night places in our lives only reveal how bright His presence really is.”

Church, let me say his again..

“The night may bend the path, but Church let me tell you, the night does not affect our Shepherd.

He is the Great Shepherd. Our Shepherd is not blinded by darkness, heavens bend under His majesty, and His presence is a light in the night. The shadows may rise, but His Word still shines. In every dark place—He is my light, He is my guide, He is my God.”

Bridge: I think of the shepherds, who society marginalized, whose very profession was to stand guard at night! God chose the shepherds. Some of you may believe you have been forgotten. But God invades the night. He is the light in the night.

Some of you may believe that darkness has swallows you up but God invades the night. He is the light in the night.

Psalm 139:12 “Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; But the night shineth as the day”

Church, let me tell you, “Your night is not a barrier to God; it is a backdrop to His glory!”

Illustration: Imagine a soldier on night watch. Everyone else is sleeping. Everyone else is unaware. Everyone else is resting. But the Soldier on watch stays awake. He watches theThat was when God came down, the heavens bent down, and darkness was under his feet. horizon. The soldier stands guard.

Church, the shepherds were on the night watch - and heaven said, “These are the ones I am going to visit!?” Go chose these shepherds for the divine invasion.

Some of you have been on the night watch in prayer.

You have been standing guard over your family.

You have been interceding for your children.

You have been crying out for a breakthrough.

But God is saying, I am about to visit you in the night.

Can I get an amen? Hal-le-lu-jah! Glory be to God!

Luke 2:9 “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.”

Church, the glory of the Lord did not flicker. The glory of the Lord did not dim. The glory of the Lord shone around about them!

Church, when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me! When the glory of the Lord shows up, darkness may seem great, but the shadow of God is greater. My bible says, darkness was under his feet! Psalm 91:1 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

I’m not just near Him—I’m under His shadow.

The glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.

When the glory comes: Fear breaks. Chains fall. Hope rises. Faith awakens. Fire ignites.

Illustration:

Like a switch in the stadium. The field is dark. The stands are empty. The air is still.

But then — with one switch — The floodlights explode into brilliance.

Darkness does not fade away slowly. It disappears instantaneously.

That is what the glory of God does. The glory of God does not negotiate with your depression. The glory of God does not bargain with your fear. The glory of God does not compromise with your bondage.

It overwhelms it. It shatters it. It lifts the burden from your shoulders and destroys the yoke around the neck.

When the glory of God is present, the anointing is present.

God moves and shakes and lifts and heals and delivers his people.

Can I get an amen? Glory be to God.

Luke 2:10 “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

As I read this passage, and I see fear not, I think of how the first word from heaven is not judgment, but it is fear not!

Fear is the enemy of faith. Fear is the enemy of obedience. Fear is the enemy of worship. Fear is the enemy that combats your walk with God. Fear is the doorway of the devil into your life. Fear allows the thief to “reign” “sovereignty” “authority” in your life. The word of God says, the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus Christ has come to give everlasting and abundant life.

The angel said: “Fear not — for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy.”

Not small joy. Not temporary joy. Not seasonal joy.

Great joy. Mega joy. Heaven-sized joy.

Supernatural joy.

Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Church I am talking about the Messiah.

Hama-Shiach

The Anointed One

The Chosen One

Unto you. Not unto them. Not unto the elite. Not unto the powerful. Unto you.

The shepherds — the forgotten ones — were the first to hear the gospel.

Because the gospel is not for the polished. The gospel is for the broken. The gospel is for the weary. The gospel is for the ones who know they need saving.

Jesus did not come to improve you — He came to rescue you.

He did not come to advise you — He came to redeem you.

He did not come to inspire you — He came to save you.

A Savior.

Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:

True Joy, My God is a light in the night!

And the government shall be upon his shoulder:

My God is the light in the night!

And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Riff Hook:

“He came down.” He came for us.

“Heavens bent low.” The weight of His majesty bent the heavens.

“God steps into the dark.” In his presence is light.

And Reminds Us that “The Lord is my light in the night.” Glory to be God!

Luke 2:12 “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

A manger. A feeding trough. A place for animals. A place that smelled like hay and sweat and dirt.

Because God wanted the shepherds to know: “You do not have to climb up to find Me. I came down to find you.”

John 3:16 “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.”

Jesus came, so you can be redeemed! Is there an area in your life that you know you can give to God?

Church, I am talking about a Savior who saw a broken world, and like A father jumping in front of an oncoming vehicle to save his child from getting hit.

I am talking about a Savior who came down, pulled us out of the miry clay, and saved us.

Psalm 40:2 “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”

He did not shout instructions from the edge — He climbed down into the pit. He did not hand me a ladder — He became my lifter. When the clay tried to claim me, Christ put His hands on me. When the mud tried to mark me, Christ put His mercy on me. He brought me up, He set me up, He’s keeping me up — and no pit can have the last word.”

Luke 2:13 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,”

Church like the shepherds:

You can be in the darkest night — and suddenly, light breaks in.

You can be in the lowest place — and suddenly, hope rises.

“Even when I fall, I shall arise!”

You can be in the middle of fear — and suddenly, peace floods your soul.

Heaven could not hold back. One angel was not enough. The Word of God syas there was a multitude of the heavenly host.

Because when Jesus entered the world, heaven erupted.

Ooooh, church, I want to present to you that our God is a God of suddenlies!

⚡ 1. Suddenly in the Upper Room — Acts 2:2–3 “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”

“…and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and there appeared unto them cloven tongues of fire, and it sat upon each of them…”

This is heaven invading earth without warning. This is God filling a room before anyone could prepare for it.

“Church let me tell you, The God of Suddenly does not need a countdown—He just comes.”

⚡ 2. Suddenly in the Prison — Acts 16:26 “And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.”

“And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken…”

Paul and Silas were not rescued slowly. God did not negotiate with chains. He shook the place. The prison doors opened, and the Chains came off

“Midnight is God’s moment. Suddenly belongs to Him, Him alone.”

⚡ 3. Suddenly on the Road to Damascus — Acts 9:3 “And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:”

“…and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.”

Saul was not seeking Jesus. He was not praying. He was not worshiping. —and God still broke in.

Church, let me tell you that you are never too far from the God of suddenlies. God will invade the night to bring a breakthrough in your life.

“When the God of Suddenly Steps Into Your Night”

Church, if He came suddenly in the Upper Room… if He came suddenly in the prison… if He came suddenly on the Damascus road… then do not dare think He will not come suddenly into your night.

Some of you know what it is to walk through a season of night. A night of fear. A night of nightmares. A night of torment.

A night of pain. A night where the enemy whispers, “This is how it will always be.”

But hear me— the God of suddenly does His best work in the dark.

When terror tries to sit on your chest, when fear tries to choke your breath, when the enemy tries to invade your sleep, when persecution rises like a storm— that’s when heaven starts moving toward you.

Because the same God who shook a prison at midnight can shake the terror out of your bedroom. The same God who lit up Saul’s darkness can light up the shadows that stalk your mind. The same God who filled a room without warning can fill your house with peace before you even know He’s there.

Church, I’m telling you— He is the Breakthrough God. He is the Suddenly Savior. He is the Night‑Invading Deliverer.

And when He steps in, fear loses its voice, torment loses its grip, darkness loses its claim, and the night loses its power.

One move from God, one breath from heaven, one sudden shift— and what held you yesterday cannot hold you tonight.

So lift your head, child of God. Your midnight is not the end— it is the preparation. Your fear is not final— it is the place where God breaks in. Your night is not your grave— it is the stage for a suddenly.

Because the God who comes suddenly is about to come for you.

Luke 2:14–15 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”

The shepherds did not delay. The shepherds did not debate. The shepherds did not negotiate.

Church, Revelation demands a response.

When God speaks — you better move. When God calls — you better move. When God interrupts your night — you better move.

Luke 2:16–18 “And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.”

Church, what this passage tells me is that the shepherds ran around giving such good news, it was too wonderful for people to comprehend.

Has God ever done such a move in your life that others began to wonder at your testimony, saying, "This is too good to be true"?

I do not believe it.

Oooh, I will tell you church, when God moves in the physical, the world cannot help but be stirred by the divine, be stirred by the supernatural.

But I think about how this passage reveals a profound truth, the shepherds witnessed the move of God in their lives, they told e’rebody, but there is no mention of the people responding to the stirring of the shepherds testimonies. The did not seek the savior, or search out the savior, they only wondered at those things.

I cannot help but find deep chastisement in this passage, we do not want to be the one who is only stirred by testimonies of God’s move, but there is no seeking Him out. These people only wondered, and never moved to find Him for themselves.

Luke 2:19 “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”

This verse is a beautiful picture of a humble and trusting heart. So much had happened, and she was at the very center of it all. No one could even begin to know the thoughts that had filled her mind for nine months, nor could anyone know the feelings and emotions of the experience. The wonder, the amazement, the astounding reality was too much to talk about. All she could do was continue in the humble sweetness that had so characterized her over the past months. She merely bowed once again in humble adoration to God and quietly entrusted all these things into God’s keeping. She said nothing, only pondered in her heart what was happening.

I see verse 19, and look at verse 20...

Luke 2:20 “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jer_29:11-13).

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” (Mat_5:17).

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Mat 11:28-30)

ALTAR CALL: “Come See What We Have Heard and Seen”

Church, the shepherds didn’t stay in the field. They didn’t stay in the dark. They didn’t stay where the angels found them.

They returned—glorifying and praising God—for everything they had heard and everything they had seen. Because once heaven breaks into your night, you can’t go back the same way you came.

And maybe this morning, you’re standing where they stood— in a field you didn’t choose, in a night you didn’t ask for, in a season that feels long, heavy, or uncertain.

But hear the Word of the Lord:

“I know the thoughts that I think toward you… thoughts of peace, and not of evil… to give you an expected end.” He has not forgotten you. He has not abandoned you. He has not changed His mind about you.

And He says, “Then shall ye call upon me… and I will hearken unto you. Ye shall seek me… and find me… when ye search for me with all your heart.”

The God who broke the silence for shepherds is breaking the silence for you.

The God who stepped into Bethlehem’s night is stepping into your night.

The God who fulfilled every promise in Christ still fulfills His Word today. Jesus said, “I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” Every longing, every prophecy, every hope—fulfilled in Him.

And now He calls you with the gentlest, strongest invitation ever spoken:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

If you’re weary—come. If you’re burdened—come. If you’re searching—come. If you’re ready for the night to break—come.

Come like the shepherds came: with wonder, with urgency, with open hearts.

Come see what heaven has spoken over you. Come step into the light that found them in the field. Come receive the rest, the peace, the future, the fulfillment that only Jesus gives.

The altar is open. The Savior is calling. And just like those shepherds… you can leave here glorifying and praising God for everything you’ve heard and everything you’ve seen.