Shepherds - When the Earth gets lit

New Living Translation Chapter 2

The Shepherds and Angels

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,

and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

With the setting of the sun, it had been a sparse dinner. This was often the case as his small goatskin only held so much and with the sheep moving so, it really came down what he could forage or find to add to his meagre repast. Now as the food settled, he sat back to the stone and he and other shepherds took turns playing tunes on their flutes. It was not always thatr he might find himself with others so close, but these others seemed the right sort. Not the scoundrels who might try to lead sheep to stray from his flock to join theirs. With the reed of the flute bringing song to the ever darkening sky he sat and gazed at the stars and dreamed of another life. A life of bread and family, a bed and house, a son to shepherd with him or for him. His dreaming was interrupted and jarred into reality when the light engulfed him. The man stood there and he could not help but get up to hear him.

1.Shepherds Hear First v.8-12

Earth Gets Lit when Heaven Comes down v.13-14

The lowly are the first God chooses to declare to -

God comes and reveals himself to a teenager and her fiance, an old couple, foreign astrologers, and some rag tag shepherds. Is this the coming of a king?

When we know how lowly we are, then God’s glory is revealed in brilliance

If God’s brilliance doesn’t humble you, then you might not be as close as you think you are

Jesus meets with Mary Magdelene after he is ressurected - former woman of ill repute

He sends his best messenger(s) - The angels who worshipped him, not those who had fallen

You move when the Lord Speaks - v.15

The guide, assist, protect, deliver, interpret God’s will, guide the nations,

He verbally confirms the fulfillment of prophecy

2. Earth Gets Lit when Heaven Comes down v.13-14

The majesty of the throne room comes to shepherds – Heavens armies appear in Worship

Luke 2:14 NLT

“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to those whom with God is is

Peace has come - to those whom God is pleased

No one will find peace with God if they are at war with him, surrender and you will have a peace you can buy, steal or manufacture

The Future Glory is glimpsed in a moment on a hillside by Shepherds

The shepherds sees the response that comes from those who know the presence of God

They must go and find this saviour which they have been told about

Our worship will not be just singing, it will be a overwhelming completion that evokes a response from our every lfiber

The find something even more glorious – the Savior is Born

The savior who is greater than the angels

The savior who has come for the lowly

The savior who will change everything

Man finds a treasure in a field, he sells all he has to buy the field, Jesus is even more glorious, even better, worth more

What was it like when God lit you up?

3. You move when the Lord Speaks - v.15

The shepherds are in Awe -

An angel has appeared to them

Angels only appeared to significant people - Jacob, Lot?

They must see what the Lord has proclaimed-

They leave the sheep -

their charge, their livelihood

They search the town

The star might guide

Is wonder of Jesus worth everything to you?

Is the treasure and wonder of Jesus worth everything to you?

John McIVer talking about Bartlets Garage - an unexpected honest encounter - Gas tank indicator - save the money fill up more - Tells everyone

They must tell

The Shepherds have their unique story to tell

When God reveals his glory

About the Savior

When God reveals himself

The Shepherds have their unique story to tell

About their encounter with the Armies of heaven

About their meeting and worship the infant savior

“Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere” The mission of Jesus - Go tell

The story you tell is not that you have made room for God in your story, it is that by some miracle God has made a place for you in his

What is the story you tell?

What will you leave this Christmas to find Jesus? Sin/Addiction/behavior?

Who will you Tell about this newborn King? From the mountains and hills of Litchfield County.