Glory To God in The Highest

1 A WOMAN TOOK HER FOURYEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER • TO “BIG CHURCH” FOR THE FIRST TIME. • THE LITTLE GIRL SAT QUIETLY • TAKING IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE SERVICE 2 3 • AND HER ATTENTIVE CURIOSITY STAYED IN CHECK • UNTIL THE PASTORAL PRAYER. • THE PASTOR SAID, “WE THANK YOU, LORD, FOR YOUR PRESENCE.” • THE LITTLE GIRL’S EYES FLEW OPEN AND SHE CRIED OUT, 4 • “GRANNY, WE’RE GONNA GET PRESENTS!” • SOMETIMES DURING THE HOLIDAYS • WE LOSE FOCUS WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT • WE GET CAUGHT UP IN DECORATIONS OR FOOD OR GIFTS 5 • AND OF COURSE FAMILY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THOSE THINGS • FAMILY IS VERY IMPORTANT DURING THE HOLIDAYS • BUT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND EVEN FAMILY AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS… • IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON • SOMEONE MIGHT ASK, • WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON? • WELL, THIS IS REALLY A TRICK QUESTION BECAUSE • THE MOST IMPORTANT THING DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON 6 • IS ACTUALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING NOT JUST DURING THE CHRISTMAS SEASON • IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN ALL SEASONS 7 8 • THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YEAR ROUND, 24-7, 365 • IS GIVING GLORY TO GOD • SINCE IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IT MIGHT BE GOOD FOR • US TO HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO GIVE GLORY TO GOD • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE • OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO GIVE GLORY TO GOD 9 10 • TURN TO LUKE CHAPTER 2 • LUKE IS GOING TO TELL ABOUT THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST • HE TELLS WHEN IT HAPPENED • HE TELLS WHERE IT HAPPENED • THEN HE IS GOING TO TELL HOW THIS BIRTH WAS ANNOUNCED 11 LUKE 2:1–15 NOW IN THOSE DAYS A DECREE WENT OUT FROM CAESAR AUGUSTUS, THAT A CENSUS BE TAKEN OF ALL THE INHABITED EARTH. THIS WAS THE FIRST CENSUS TAKEN WHILE QUIRINIUS WAS GOVERNOR OF SYRIA. 12 AND EVERYONE WAS ON HIS WAY TO REGISTER FOR THE CENSUS, EACH TO HIS OWN CITY. JOSEPH ALSO WENT UP FROM GALILEE, FROM THE CITY OF NAZARETH, TO JUDEA, TO THE CITY OF DAVID WHICH IS CALLED BETHLEHEM, 13 BECAUSE HE WAS OF THE HOUSE AND FAMILY OF DAVID, IN ORDER TO REGISTER ALONG WITH MARY, WHO WAS ENGAGED TO HIM, AND WAS WITH CHILD. WHILE THEY WERE THERE, THE DAYS WERE COMPLETED FOR HER TO GIVE BIRTH. 14 AND SHE GAVE BIRTH TO HER FIRSTBORN SON; AND SHE WRAPPED HIM IN CLOTHS, AND LAID HIM IN A MANGER, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR THEM IN THE INN. IN THE SAME REGION THERE WERE SOME SHEPHERDS STAYING OUT IN THE FIELDS AND KEEPING WATCH OVER THEIR FLOCK BY NIGHT. 15 AND AN ANGEL OF THE LORD SUDDENLY STOOD BEFORE THEM, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHONE AROUND THEM; AND THEY WERE TERRIBLY FRIGHTENED. BUT THE ANGEL SAID TO THEM, “DO NOT BE AFRAID; FOR BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY WHICH WILL BE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE; 16 FOR TODAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID THERE HAS BEEN BORN FOR YOU A SAVIOR, WHO IS CHRIST THE LORD. “THIS WILL BE A SIGN FOR YOU: YOU WILL FIND A BABY WRAPPED IN CLOTHS AND LYING IN A MANGER.” 17 AND SUDDENLY THERE APPEARED WITH THE ANGEL A MULTITUDE OF THE HEAVENLY HOST PRAISING GOD AND SAYING, “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE AMONG MEN WITH WHOM HE IS PLEASED.” 18 WHEN THE ANGELS HAD GONE AWAY FROM THEM INTO HEAVEN, THE SHEPHERDS BEGAN SAYING TO ONE ANOTHER, “LET US GO STRAIGHT TO BETHLEHEM THEN, AND SEE THIS THING THAT HAS HAPPENED WHICH THE LORD HAS MADE KNOWN TO US.” 19 DECLARE GOD’S GLORY LIKE THE ANGELS • IT IS WRONG TO WORSHIP ANGELS; • BUT IT IS APPROPRIATE TO LEARN FROM THEM • ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE A GREAT SIN, 20 • AND A CRIME AGAINST GOD TO GIVE ADORATION TO THE MIGHTIEST ANGEL, • YET IT WOULD BE UNWISE AND INAPPROPRIATE, • IF WE DID NOT GIVE ATTENTION TO HOLY ANGELS • FOR GUIDANCE ON HOW WE SHOULD GIVE GLORY TO GOD 21 • FIRST A SINGLE ANGEL ANNOUNCES THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOR • THEN SUDDENLY A MULTITUDE OF THE HEAVENLY HOST • COMES PRAISING GOD AND SAYING 22 • “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE AMONG MEN WITH WHOM HE IS PLEASED.” • THERE ARE A FEW THINGS WE NEED TO NOTICE ABOUT THIS 23 FIRST WE NEED TO NOTICE HOW THE ANGELS ARE FREE FROM ENVY • REMEMBER THEY ARE ANNOUNCING CHRIST HAD COME AS THE SAVIOR OF MANKIND • CHRIST DID NOT COME FROM HEAVEN TO SAVE THE ANGELS WHEN THEY FELL • SATAN DRAGGED ONE THIRD OF THE ANGELIC HOST WITH HIM 24 • AND CHRIST DID NOT COME DOWN TO DIE FOR THEM • YET THESE ANGELS DO NOT HOLD THAT AGAINST MAN OR GOD • CHRIST HAS COME TO SAVE MEN NOT ANGELS AND YET THE ANGELS • DECLARE HIS GLORY IN DOING THIS 25 • THEY DID NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT GOD SAVING MAN AND NOT ANGELS (PAUSE) • WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THIS TO NOT WITHHOLD • DECLARING GOD’S GLORY WHEN OTHERS RECEIVE A BLESSING AND WE DO NOT 26 • OUR PRAISE AND GLORY SHOULD NEVER BE LIMITED • BY SOME COMPARISON OF OUR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES • WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF OTHERS • GIVING GLORY AND PRAISE TO GOD SHOULD BE BASED ON WHO HE IS • THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE 27 THE SECOND THING WE NEED TO NOTICE HOW FREE FROM PRIDE THE ANGELS ARE • THEY WERE NOT ASHAMED TO DECLARE GOD’S GLORY TO SHEPHERDS • THEY HAD AS MUCH JOY PROCLAIMING GOD’S GLORY TO THE SHEPHERDS 28 • AS THE WOULD HAVE HAD IF THEY HAD BEEN BEFORE THE COURT OF CESAR HIMSELF • PRIDEFUL HUMANS ON THE OTHER HAND SOMETIMES LINK HOW WE • DECLARE GOD’S GLORY TO WHO WE ARE DECLARING IT TO 29 • WE DECLARE IT ONE WAY TO PRINCES, KINGS, AND PRESIDENTS • AND DECLARE IT ANOTHER WAY TO THE HOMELESS, THE ADDICT, AND THE PRISONER • GOD’S GLORY IS GREAT AND MAGNIFICENT BEYOND COMPARE REGARDLESS OF WHO WE ARE DECLARING IT TO (PAUSE) 30 • HOW PRIDEFUL ARE WE BEING IF WE ONLY WANT TO DECLARE IT • BEFORE THE RICH, THE POWERFUL, THE FAMOUS • AND NOT BEFORE THE SUFFERING, THE NEEDY AND THE OPPRESSED 31 • IF THE ANGELS COME IN MULTITUDES TO DECLARE IT TO SHEPHERDS • WE SHOULD BE HONORED TO DECLARE IT • BEFORE ANYONE GOD WILL ALLOW US TO PROCLAIM HIS GLORY TO 32 NEXT WE NEED TO NOTICE WHO THE ANGELS DECLARE THE GLORY OF • TO DECLARE SOMETHING TO THE GLORY OF SOMEONE • IS TO GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR THE THING • TO PRAISE THEM FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE 33 • IN THIS CASE THEY ARE GIVING GOD THE GLORY • THE CREDIT AND THE HONOR FOR THE SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST • COMING INTO THE WORLD • IN EFFECT THEY ARE SAYING TO GOD GOES THE CREDIT, THE HONOR 34 • FOR SAVING MANKIND FROM SIN • I KNOW THIS SEEMS OBVIOUS, SURELY NO ONE WHO BELIEVES IN GOD • WOULD EVER DENY GOD THE CREDIT, THE HONOR OF HAVING SAVED US • BY COMING IN THE FORM OF A MAN, LIVING A SINLESS LIFE, DYING ON THE CROSS 35 • RISING AGAIN AFTER THREE DAYS AND ASCENDING TO HEAVEN. • SURELY NO ONE WOULD EVER GIVE ANY OF THE CREDIT FOR THIS • TO ANYONE OTHER THAN GOD • AND YET WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN GOD • WHO CALL THEM SELVES CHRISTIANS • WHO SAY FROM THE PULPIT, AND WRITE IN THEOLOGICAL BOOKS • THAT MAN MUST EARN SALVATION BY DOING CERTAIN WORKS • THAT IF SOMEONE DOES NOT DO THIS OR THAT WORK 36 37 • COUNT THESE BEADS, SAY THESE PRAYERS, PERFORM THESE DEEDS • HE DOES NOT GO TO HEAVEN • IN SAYING THESE THINGS THEY ARE • DECLARING GLORY TO MAN NOT TO GOD • IF THEY SAY WE ARE SAVED 99% BY CHRIST ON THE CROSS • AND 1% BY OUR OWN WORKS • THEY HAVE JUST REDUCED THE GLORY GIVEN TO GOD • AND TAKEN SOME AND GIVEN IT TO MANKIND • THE ANGELS DO NOT SAY 99% OF THE GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST 38 39 • IF WE ARE GOING TO DECLARE GOD’S GLORY LIKE THE ANGELS • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GIVING ALL THE CREDIT FOR OUR SALVATION • TO GOD AND TO GOD ALONE 40 WE NEED TO NOTICE WHAT THE ANGELS DECLARE AS THE HIGHEST GLORY • WE NEED TO GIVE GOD THE GLORY FOR SO MANY THINGS • THE AIR WE BREATH THE WATER WE DRINK • THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD AROUND US • THE STARS IN THE HEAVENS • ALL SHOULD DRIVE US TO DECLARE GLORY TO GOD • BUT ABOVE AND BEYOND ALL THESE THINGS • TRULY THE HIGHEST THING WE SHOULD PRAISE GOD FOR 41 42 • IS THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST, GOD COMING IN THE FORM OF A MAN • IT IS NOT THAT THIS WAS HARDER, MORE CHALLENGING, • MORE DIFFICULT, MORE WORK FOR GOD THAN ANYTHING ELSE • NOTHING IS HARD, DIFFICULT, CHALLENGING FOR GOD 43 • NO, THE REASON THE INCARNATION IS CALLED GOD’S HIGHEST GLORY • IS BECAUSE IT WAS HIS GREATEST ACT OF LOVE, OF SACRIFICE • IT WAS UTTERLY UN-NECESSARY, HE COULD HAVE LEFT US IN OUR SIN • HE WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST AS RIGHTEOUS IF HE HAD • BUT HE BECAME A MAN, SO THAT HE MIGHT BE TEMPTED AS WE ARE TEMPTED 44 • YET HE LIVED A LIFE WITHOUT SIN AND DIED ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR OUR SINS • AND FOR THIS WE SHOULD, LIKE THE ANGELS • DECLARE GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST 45 PRESIDENT CALVIN COOLIDGE 46 • INVITED SOME PEOPLE FROM HIS HOMETOWN TO DINNER AT THE WHITE HOUSE. • SINCE THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO BEHAVE AT SUCH AN OCCASION, • THEY THOUGHT THE BEST POLICY WOULD BE JUST TO DO WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID. 47 • THE TIME CAME FOR SERVING COFFEE. • THE PRESIDENT POURED HIS COFFEE INTO A SAUCER. • AS SOON AS THE HOME TOWN FOLK SAW IT, THEY DID THE SAME. • THE NEXT STEP FOR THE PRESIDENT WAS TO POUR SOME MILK 48 • AND ADD A LITTLE SUGAR TO THE COFFEE IN THE SAUCER. • THE HOME FOLKS DID THE SAME. • THEY THOUGHT FOR SURE THAT THE NEXT STEP • WOULD BE FOR THE PRESIDENT TO TAKE THE SAUCER WITH 49 • THE COFFEE AND BEGIN SIPPING IT. • BUT THE PRESIDENT DIDN’T DO SO. • HE LEANED OVER, PLACED THE SAUCER ON THE FLOOR AND CALLED THE CAT. • WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHO WE FOLLOW 50 • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW AFTER SOMEONE • WHO IS DOING WHAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO • SOMEONE WHO IS DOING THINGS GOD’S WAY • IF WE HAPPEN TO HAVE AN EXAMPLE THAT WE KNOW WE CAN TRUST • LIKE AN EXAMPLE IN THE BIBLE OF AN ANGEL DECLARING GLORY TO GOD • WE NEED TO LEARN AS MUCH AS WE CAN FROM THAT EXAMPLE • WE CAN BE CERTAIN THE ANGEL IS DOING GOD’S WILL AND DOING IT GOD’S WAY 51 52 • WE CAN LEARN FROM THE ANGELS HOW WE SHOULD DECLARE GOD’S GLORY • WE CAN ALSO LEARN WHY WE SHOULD DECLARE GOD’S GLORY LUKE 2:14 53 • “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE AMONG MEN WITH WHOM HE IS PLEASED.” • THE ANGELS DECLARE TWO THINGS HERE • GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST 54 • AND PEACE ON EARTH • THE BEGINNING OF PEACE ON EARTH IS FOUND • IN THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST, IT IS COMPLETED AT THE CROSS(PAUSE) • WHEN IT SAYS PEACE AMONG MEN 55 • IT KINDA MAKES IT SOUND LIKE THIS PEACE WAS BETWEEN MEN • BUT THAT IS NOT THE PEACE THAT JESUS BROUGHT AT HIS FIRST ADVENT • ONE WAY TO TRANSLATE THIS IS 56 • PEACE “IN RELATION TO, WITH RESPECT TO MEN • THE PEACE THAT JESUS BROUGHT AT HIS FIRST ADVENT • WAS PEACE BETWEEN GOD AND MEN • THIS IS CERTAINLY A REASON TO DECLARE GOD’S GLORY (PAUSE) • SINCE THE FALL THERE HAD NOT BEEN PEACE BETWEEN • MAN AND GOD, ONLY THROUGH THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST • COULD PEACE EVEN OCCUR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN • AND NOTICE WHERE THIS PEACE IS TO BE FOUND 57 58 IT IS PEACE ON EARTH • IT IS ONE THING TO THINK WE CAN HAVE PEACE WITH GOD • ONCE WE ARE IN HEAVEN WITH HIM • BUT IT IS SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT 59 • WHEN WE UNDERSTAND WE CAN HAVE PEACE WITH GOD • RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, ON EARTH (PAUSE) • WE CAN HAVE THIS PEACE BY THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, GOD COME IN THE FORM OF A MAN • HE LIVED A SINLESS LIFE AND DIED ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR OUR SINS • HE ROSE AGAIN AFTER THREE DAYS (PAUSE) • ONLY BY TRUSTING IN THIS AND IN THIS ALONE CAN MAN HAVE PEACE WITH GOD • THE BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF PEACE IS TIED 60 61 • TO THE HEBREW WORD SHALOM • AND INCLUDES MORE THEN JUST THE CEASING OF HOSTILITY • PEACE WITH GOD INCLUDES GOD’S LOVING KINDNESS AND BLESSINGS • AND THIS PEACE WAS TO BE FOR ALL THE EARTH • THERE IS AN INTERESTING IMPLICATION IN THIS STATEMENT • PEACE ON EARTH • NOTICE IT WAS NOT PEACE IN ISRAEL 62 63 • OR PEACE IN JERUSALEM • IT WAS PEACE ON EARTH • THIS WAS TO BE A PEACE THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO ALL MANKIND ON ALL THE EARTH • NOW THIS IS A REASON TO DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD • THAT ALL THE EARTH MIGHT HAVE THE MEANS 64 • TO ENTER INTO PEACE WITH GOD • NOTICE THIS DOES NOT MEAN ALL THE EARTH WOULD BE AT PEACE • THERE WOULD STILL BE STRUGGLES AND STRIFE • BUT WE WOULD HAVE THE PEACE OF GOD DURING THOSE STRUGGLES A KING OFFERED A PRIZE • FOR THE BEST PAINTING OF WHAT PEACE MEANT • MANY PAINTINGS WERE SUBMITTED • THE KING LOOKED AT ALL OF THEM 65 66 • THERE WERE ONLY TWO HE REALLY LIKED • HE HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEM. • ONE PICTURE WAS OF A CALM LAKE. • THE LAKE WAS A PERFECT MIRROR, 67 • FOR PEACEFUL THE TOWERING MOUNTAINS WERE ALL AROUND IT. • OVERHEAD WAS A BLUE SKY WITH FLUFFY WHITE CLOUDS. • ALL WHO SAW THIS PICTURE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS • A PERFECT PICTURE OF PEACE. 68 • THE OTHER PICTURE HAD MOUNTAINS TOO. • BUT THESE WERE RUGGED AND BARE. • ABOVE WAS AN ANGRY SKY FROM WHICH RAIN FELL • DOWN THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN TUMBLED A FOAMING WATERFALL. 69 • THIS DID NOT LOOK PEACEFUL AT ALL. • BUT WHEN THE KING LOOKED, HE SAW BEHIND THE WATERFALL • A TINY BUSH GROWING IN A CRACK IN THE ROCK. • IN THE BUSH A MOTHER BIRD HAD BUILT HER NEST. 70 • THERE, IN THE MIDST OF THE RUSH OF ANGRY WATER, • SAT THE MOTHER BIRD ON HER NEST… PERFECT PEACE. • THE KING CHOSE THE SECOND PICTURE. • “BECAUSE,” EXPLAINED THE KING, 71 • “PEACE DOES NOT MEAN TO BE IN A PLACE • WHERE THERE IS NO NOISE, TROUBLE, OR HARD WORK. • PEACE MEANS TO BE IN THE MIDST OF ALL THOSE THINGS • AND STILL BE CALM IN YOUR HEART. • THAT IS THE REAL MEANING OF PEACE.” • SOMETIMES WE LOOK AT THE WORLD AROUND US • AND WONDER WHERE THE PEACE THESE ANGELS ARE DECLARING IS • WE SEE VIOLENCE AND HATRED, DIVISION, WAR, UNREST. 72 73 • BUT THIS PEACE THESE ANGELS ARE DECLARING IS AVAILABLE • TO EVERYONE THAT HAS TRUSTED IN WHAT JESUS DID ON THE CROSS • THIS PEACE THE ANGELS ARE DECLARING IS PEACE WITH GOD • AND WHILE THIS PEACE IS OFFERED TO ALL • SOME WILL REJECT THE OFFER. LUKE 2:14 “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE AMONG MEN WITH WHOM HE IS PLEASED.” • THE PEACE CHRIST BRINGS IS NOT UNIVERSAL 74 75 • CHRIST DIED TO PAY FOR ALL SINS • BUT THIS PAYMENT ONLY APPLIES TO THOSE • WHO TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR • AND SADLY SOME.. MANY PEOPLE REJECT THIS CHRIST 76 • NOTICE HOW THE TEXT SAYS THE PEACE IS AMONG (OR IN RELATION TO) • MEN WITH WHOM HE IS PLEASED • THE HE THERE IS GOD • THIS PEACE WITH GOD IS ONLY WITH MEN WHOM GOD IS PLEASED WITH 77 • NOW WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO PLEASE GOD? • WELL YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS FOR PLEASING GOD • OPTION 1. FOLLOW HIS WILL PERFECTLY • NEVER THINK, SAY OR DO ANYTHING THAT GOES AGAINST GOD’S WILL 78 • THAT IS NEVER SIN, WHICH BY THE WAY NONE OF US CAN EVER DO • OPTION 2. YOU CAN TRUST IN THE ONLY PERSON • WHO WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW HIS WILL PERFECTLY, JESUS CHRIST 79 • THE PEACE CHRIST BRINGS BETWEEN GOD AND MAN • IS LIMITED TO THOSE WHO PLACE THEIR FAITH AND TRUST IN CHRIST • THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ACTUALLY BE PLEASING TO GOD • WE MIGHT LIKE TO THINK WE CAN PLEASE GOD BY BEING • GOOD ENOUGH, BY EARNING A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM • BY DOING ENOUGH GOOD DEEDS OR GOOD WORKS • BY GOING TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY 80 81 • BY NEVER DOING ANYTHING THAT GOES AGAINST GOD’S WILL • BUT THAT IS JUST NOT POSSIBLE • ONLY WHEN WE TRUST IN CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOR CAN WE BE PLEASING TO GOD • IT IS OUR RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST • THAT MAKES US PLEASING TO GOD THE FATHER MARTIN LUTHER ONCE WROTE 82 • "THE LIFE OF CHRISTIANITY CONSISTS OF POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS. • IT IS ONE THING TO SAY, "CHRIST IS A SAVIOR"; • IT IS QUITE ANOTHER THING TO SAY, "HE IS MY SAVIOR AND MY LORD." 83 • THE DEVIL CAN SAY "CHRIST IS A SAVIOR" • ONLY THE CHRISTIAN CAN SAY "HE IS MY SAVIOR AND MY LORD." • GOD IS ONLY “WELL PLEASED” WITH US • AND THEREFORE AT PEACE WITH US 84 • WHEN WE TRUST IN CHRIST AND HIS WORK ON THE CROSS • AND THIS PEACE WITH GOD SHOULD LEAD US TO • DECLARE HIS GLORY JUST AS THE ANGELS DECLARED GOD’S GLORY AT THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST 85 • THE BIBLE MAKES IT VERY CLEAR • THAT WE SHOULD NEVER WORSHIP ANGELS • BUT WE CAN LEARN A GREAT DEAL FROM THEM ABOUT HOW WE ARE TO DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD 86 • JUST AS THE ANGELS PROCLAIM GLORY TO GOD • AT THE BIRTH OF THE ONE WHO WOULD SAVE MANKIND AND NOT THE ANGELS • WE NEED TO BE CERTAIN WE NEVER WITHHOLD DECLARING GOD’S GLORY OUT OF ENVY (PAUSE) • IF GOD WORKS IN SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE IN A MIGHTY WAY 87 • WE SHOULD DECLARE GOD’S GLORY FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE IN THEIR LIVES • NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT HE HAS NOT DONE IN OUR OWN • BE NEED TO BE JUST AS JOYFUL ABOUT DECLARING • THE GLORY OF GOD TO LOWLY SHEPHERDS • AS WE WOULD BE ABOUT DECLARING IT TO KINGS • WE NEED TO STRIVE TO ONLY DECLARE GOD’S GLORY • MAKING SURE WE TAKE NO GLORY FOR OUR SELVES 88 89 • OR GIVE GLORY TO ANYTHING BUT GOD • HE ALONE IS WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE AND GLORY • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ALWAYS GIVE HIM • THE PRAISE, THE HONOR, AND THE GLORY • FOR BRINGING PEACE BETWEEN GOD AND MAN • THROUGH JESUS CHRIST • IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO HERE TODAY 90 91 • WHO HAS NOT RECEIVED THIS PEACE • ANYONE WHO HAS NOT TRUSTED IN JESUS CHRIST • AS THEIR PERSONAL SAVIOR… 92