Angels Song

INTRODUCTION

GOOD MORNING | RELEASE KIDS

SERIES CONCLUSION & NEXT WEEK

Songs of Christmas

The story of Jesus in the Gospel and the songs surrounding his birth that cause us to:

Remember his faithfulness

Hope in the fulfilled of promises yet fulfilled

Mary’s Song

Zechariah’s Song

Simeon’s Song

Our Songs of Thanksgiving

Next week you will have an opportunity to add your own song of thanksgiving

As we enter a new year, we will take time next Sunday to publicly share our stories of thankfulness from 2019

In this way, my prayer is that this time causes our hearts to look into the new year with a renewed hope in God’s faithfulness, regardless of our circumstances.

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Angel’s Song Proclaiming the Birth of Jesus

QUESTION:

Have your ever misread a situation? You think you saw what was happening and that your conclusions were correct but then you get other details and you realize you mis understood the whole thing.

Recipes from my mom and grandmother

Kids watching and mimicking your

Eleanor as a child

Sometimes I feel that way concerning today’s story.

peaceful, calm, bright, singing, angels....

abrupt, startling, terrifying, awe-struck, fear, haste....

Today - I want us to enter this Christmas week with a heart-felt understanding

BIG IDEA: God’s glory causes great fear but his good news brings great joy for all people.

God’s Glory | Great Fear

God’s Good News | Great Joy

This will lead you to a moment of response

READ THE PASSAGE

PRAY

GOD’S GLORY | GREAT FEAR

“ANGEL OF THE LORD”

The exact same phrase is used of the angel who appeared to Zacharius - Gabriel

Gabriel is described by Daniel as looking like a man (). There is no mention of wings, even though he flies swiftly.

Gabriel visited Daniel, Zacharias, the Virgin Mary, and the Shepherds

He is a message of God

He stands in the presence of God ()

“GLORY OF THE LORD”

This is the bright light that surrounds the presence of God himself - this sometimes appears as a cloud - bright light - or fire.

no dimmer switch

Exodus 24:17 ESV

Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.

Revelation 21:23–24 ESV

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,

Light of God’s Glory, not the Angel

Shone around the shepherds

We don’t know what this looked like exactly but can we agree this would be scary.

This isn’t just a shining angel in the sky

This is angel who stands in the presence of God

This is the glory of God surrounding them

WHY GREAT FEAR?

WHY GREAT FEAR?

SHEPHERD WERE RELIGIOUS OUTCASTS

Their testimony was not admissible in court and they were religious outcasts because they lived with sheep and couldn’t keep all the rules and regulations of the rabbis.

Yet, consider that God first announced his arrival to religious outcasts.

I love a good underdog story

This says something to me about God’s character

It wasn’t the religious leaders, the preachers, or rabbis, but the outcast, sitting in the field at night while others slept.

WHY AFRAID - SUDDENNESS

You would be slightly startarled as well

WHY AFRAID - CONSUMED

In the midst of absolute perfection and glory, nothing impure can remain

When light shines into darkness, the darkness fleas.

When fire meets wood, the wood is consumed

The the burning light of God’s holiness is present, nothing with sin can stand

This is Why Daniel says, “Woe is me! I am ruined!”

Destruction is Imminent

This is what you would assume to see just before you die

Your heart stops, your minds both freezes and tries racing for understanding, which only leads to temporary parallisis.

The the angel speaks and your brain tries to catch up to the words in astonishment that you are still alive.

This is the bright light that surrounds the presence of God himself - this sometimes appears as a cloud - bright light - or fire.

Exodus 24:17 ESV

Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.

Revelation 21:23–24 ESV

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,

GOD’S GOOD NEWS | GREAT JOY

Contrast great joy with great fear

“A SAVIOR, WHO IS CHRIST THE LORD.”

This is the title used of YHWH - the holiest name of God

A SAVIOR

Isaiah 43:3 ESV

For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

Isaiah 43:11 ESV

I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.

CHRIST THE LORD - Notice the three titles given to Jesus

The fact the Jesus is called by 2 major OT titles of YHWH (Savior & Lord) is striking! Then you add on top of this the title of Messiah

3 Titles

Savior

Lord

Christ

Luke is making triple sure that we see the divinity of Jesus.

This is just a child

This is THE child

“FOR ALL PEOPLE”

Outcast Shepherds

Gentiles

EXPECTATIONS OF THE MESSIAH

King in the line of David

Liberator

Ruler

“A SIGN”

This is how you will find him

Now imagine: surrounded by the burning light of God’s presence

The Angel of the Lord, most likely, Gabriel, is standing before you.

He’s just declared this baby to the Savior, Lord, and Messiah.

Now, this is how you find him...

Swaddling clothes - just like every other blanket, those white with pink and blue stipe blankets at the hospital

Lying in a manger - the feeding trough of an animal!

Can you imagine their questions:

Will there be a halo?

JUST AS THE QUESTIONS started to cross their minds.

SUDDEN MULTITUDE OF HEAVENLY HOST!

AN ARMY OF ANGELS

This is what a heavenly host means - in the original language this has a military connotation.

We have this conditioned image of gently illuminated winged people with blonde hair, halos, and white robes

says that the captain of the host had a sword in his hand.

Instead - what if we imagined something like this...

I need 2 volunteers… the rest of you will need to help me...

The shepherds in the field at night

Angel suddenly appears & the glory of God is like a fiery light completely surrounding you.

The angel says, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

SUDDENLY, 1000 angelic warriors armed with swords, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

SHEPHERDS’ RESPONSE | YOUR RESPONSE

“LET US GO...”

Went with haste

How did they really say this?

How would you respond if you were in their shoes or sandals?

Would you stay put - “well that was interesting” “wasn’t expecting that tonight”

Or would you run with haste to see what the angels just announced

How will you respond today, sitting there in your own shoes or sandals.

Well that was interesting - where are we going to go for lunch…?

Or will your heart be led to worship - God, King, Savior, Glory ---> laying in a manger

Come to Jesus

Scripture declares Jesus to be God, clothed in humanity

Will you continue to see Jesus how you have always assumed, or will see him for who he really is

He lived a perfect life

He was crucified on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins.

A baby, who came to die.

“SHEPHERDS RETURNED...”

“glorying & praising God...”

They were changed

They were telling people what they had seen

Remember, they are religious outcasts, whose testimony would not hold up in court, yet they did not remain silent - and people listened

Those who say - I’m not a preacher, who am I that people would listen to what I have to say...

Leave Changed

Some for the first time

For many of us - as we celebrate Christmas this week.

I encourage you to see beyond the tame, peaceful, gentle scene we see in paintings and coloring books.

See the sudden, piercing, abrupt, terrifying display of God Glory juxtaposed against the swaddling clothes and manger.

Our Songs of Thanksgiving (Next Sunday)

Next week you will have an opportunity to add your own song of thanksgiving

As we enter a new year, we will take time next Sunday to publicly share our stories of thankfulness from 2019

In this way, my prayer is that this time causes our hearts to look into the new year with a renewed hope in God’s faithfulness, regardless of our circumstances.

CONCLUSION

HOW WILL YOU RESPOND THIS CHRISTMAS?

If you were to stand in the presence of God today - how would you respond?

He is perfect, in him there is no fault, no sin, no darkness

We would be consumed.

Come to Jesus

Scripture declares Jesus to be God, clothed in humanity

Will you continue to see Jesus how you have always assumed, or will see him for who he really is

He lived a perfect life

He was crucified on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins.

A baby, who came to die.

Leave Changed

Some for the first time

For many of us - as we celebrate Christmas this week.

I encourage you to see beyond the tame, peaceful, gentle scene we see in paintings and coloring books.

See the sudden, piercing, abrupt, terrifying display of God Glory juxtaposed against the swaddling clothes and manger.

Our Songs of Thanksgiving (Next Sunday)

Next week you will have an opportunity to add your own song of thanksgiving

As we enter a new year, we will take time next Sunday to publicly share our stories of thankfulness from 2019

In this way, my prayer is that this time causes our hearts to look into the new year with a renewed hope in God’s faithfulness, regardless of our circumstances.