2006-12-10 - Shepherds - Luke 2 8-20

Message: Shepherds                                           Newport Baptist Church

Scr: Luke 2:8-20                                                 Date: 2006-12-10

Intro:   Jesus had been born and the first ones God tells is the shepherds.

Imagine the scene. The field at night, the quiet, the hum-drum work.

These shepherds were those who watched over the temple sheep destined for the passover sacrifice. They were Rabinically unclean and could not actually come to temple worship.

These were those who were the lowest class of society. They did not go home at night, but slept in the fields day in and out.

Explanation – They were not necessarily looking, but God, Himself, came on the scene of their lives, and gave them a Divine invitation to go and meet with the Messiah, the Savior of the world.

When suddenly the Angel of the Lord appears and tells them the Good news.

They had to see this marvelous thing that the angel spoke of.

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TS – Ill – wedding of two friends of mine – I was the pastor, knew I was supposed to be there, BUT!  I hadn’t received an invitation…waited a while, finally went and asked, am I invited?  They gave me an invitation, but then I still had to rsvp.  We began with an invitation, and we then responded with celebration!

God invites – we must respond – shepherds teach us!

1)       God invites us.

a)       Who does he invite?

i)         You and I – everyone! John 3:16

ii)       Mt. 11:28—come unto me you who are weary and heavy laden (things, religion’s rules, oppressed, depressed, cares)

iii)      Mark 8:34—whosoever will come…deny…take up cross and choose to press through.

iv)     Rev. 22:17—God is still calling at the end of Revelation.

b)       They had to choose to seek God out. (accept the invitation)

i)         Whenever you make a decision to follow God, there will be some obstacle, some difficulty, something you must press through to get to your goal of a real relationship with God.

(1)     I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17, KJV).

(2)     Mark 5:25—the woman pressed thru the crowd. At times it may be crowded schedules, crowded priorities, it may be the opinions of others, it will be a whole variety of obstacles to try to hinder you from following the Lord, obeying him, and worshiping Him.

(3)     Matthew 7:7—ask (and keep on asking) seek, (and keep on seeking), knock (and keep on knocking).

(4)     They met with Jesus.

We need frequent, regular encounters with Jesus Christ. When was the last time you had a real encounter? What is keeping you away from God?

ii)       Seen in Early church

(1)     Luke 24:49, Stay in Jerusalem until the promise of the Father comes, the Holy Spirit clothes you with power. Jesus knew that they needed Divine encounters.

(2)     Acts 1:4-8, When you recieve HS’s power you will be witnesses. It was very important, and is of utmost importance that we have regular encounters with the spirit of God.

(3)     Acts 2—They met with God – Pentecost!

(4)     Acts 3—going to the temple to pray (meet with God)

(5)     Acts 4:31—they prayed and all were filled with the Holy Spirit.

2)       We respond to God -  two Results of accepting his invitation

a)       1st result - Spread the Word

(1)     Luke 2:17—Shepherds were the first to tell others of Jesus.

(a)     They had to tell somebody.

(b)     They had just experienced a great move of God.

(c)     The angels had appeared to them specially.

(2)     That is how God works.

(a)     God deals with the individual heart.

(b)     Even in group settings. (v 15)

(c)     They had seen the Savior. (Think on that)  The anointed one of God. (Christ)

(d)     Even the shepherds had heard of the coming Messiah.  From childhood they had been taught. (Deut. 6:5-7)

(e)     When they told the people listened.

b)       2nd result - Worship and praise.

i)         An evidence of someone who encounters God is a lifestyle of worship and praise.

ii)       How do you respond when God invites you to meet with Him?

(1)     Is the timing of dinner to important. Is that project you are working on first priority? Is what others think so important?

(2)     Many cannot spread the word and are not filled with joy, peace, worship, and praise because they have allowed things other than God to fill their heart

(a)     Philippians 4:6—worries

(b)     Unforgiveness - Mt 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

(c)     Cares of this world (Mt. 13:22) and deceitfulness of riches. – ‘love of money!’

iii)      They left praising God.

(1)     After such an intense encounter with God, what else could they do?

(2)     They had just seen the Savior of the world.

(3)     They knew he was coming.

(4)     And now he was here.

(5)     They had to praise, but how do we react? Do we praise him?

Conclusion – The shepherds in that field that night set an example for us.

Our Savior has come into the world. And into us.

We have heard this story time and time again, now it is time to live it.

We must tell the world. That is our commission.

We must praise him. That is our purpose.

Prayer –