Fear Not: God Has Come Near
Well, good morning church. How we doing? Come on guys. Good morning. That's better. That's better. For those of you who know me. My name is Reese and I MD Apprentice Church Plant Pastor here at Westland Alliance Church, which means if you're coming to the church info night tonight and get to hear me twice. I'm very sorry. This is so long so long day but not go that 19 days until Christmas. Yeah, let that was people less excited than I thought. All right, let's excited. I thought you'd be if you were here last week. We started our Christmas Series right let nothing you a fright Mary Esther Cut this off last week. It is in an excellent way of encouraging us not to fear because God knows what he's doing right? Do not fear. God knows what he's doing what it what a great reminder that was this year in the midst of all these distractions and not knowing it was good. It was good to be reminded that God Reigns. God is in control right it to clean to his sovereignty in this morning. I get the pleasure of being you that the second message in our series fear. Not God has come near our that's the title this morning fear. Not God has come here and I need to confess to you that I have been childish guided to preach this message like 4 weeks we've been talking about this for a long time and we were breaking it up. I was like I want that one. That would be really good and I'm probably I'm not I'm not exaggerating when I say people have probably been annoyed by my excitement. Like I've been texting you too. Pretty regularly. I've been talking to my wife and my friend like that. I was I'm very excited and the more I get the more I saw him prepared and got ready to preach the more accepted I got right the Morrison I got cuz the message of our passage today is such good news right at the heart of our texts at the heart of what we're talking about is the message that we serve a God who is come to us. We serve a god that is come to us. How amazing is that? Right? That's the message of Christmas fear. Not God has come near our savior has come to us as Christians. We do not need to try and Herb God's favor, right? We don't have to get his attention or his help. We do not need to fear Feliz Drive to be good enough right to earn God's salvation. We serve a God who knew that we could never ever get the him on our own power and ability so he came to us. I've cried more in the last 6 weeks in joy and thankfulness. And I think I've cried in the last 10 years. I was complaining that the older I get I am 32 not that old understand but I think in the two years since I've turned 30, I've cried more than in the entire decade in my twenties. I don't know what that says but I'm a little concerned cuz it's going to get worse than the older I get. It's not good. But but I've been so excited about this. What time do our tax grab your Bibles open them up Loop. 2K were going to be in loot to looking at vs. 8 to 20 Luke 2 verses 8 220 turn on your devices are open your Bibles. If you're able why don't you stand and we'll read God's word this morning.
Luke you starting verse 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night and an angel of the Lord appeared to them in the glory of the Lord Shone around them and they were filled with great fear and the angel said fear not for behold. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people for unto you is Born This Day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ the lord and this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a major and studly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace among those with whom he is pleased when the Angels win away from them into having the shepherd said to one another let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened. What's the Lord has made known to us. And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger and when they sought they made known the saying that I've been told to them concerning this child and all who heard wondered what the shepherd's told them the Mary treasured of all these things pondering them in her heart in the Shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen as I have been told to them Father. We thank you for your word while we thank you for for the truth. We find in a father for the encouragement and for the things that tells if we thank you for this account of the announcement of the birth of your son Jesus father and how it encourages us Lord in the familiarity of it Lord. I pray that you would not let that the majesty and the Wonder on display here in these vs. Be lost to us just because we we've heard it before dozens of times for the page. You open your eyes in our hearts to see The Amazing Race on this way here father the death of your mercy or The Wonder of the Incarnation of your son or be with us. Guide me today that you were go forth with power and authority in Jesus name. We pray. Amen or grabaseat.
Let let nothing you were Freight is such a great title for a Christmas series because it cuts so wonderfully to the heart of the Gospel Our Savior came near so we need not fear Our Savior came here. So we need not fear in this is a reminder we so often need and it's so clearly seen in versus 8 to 12 of our passage. Let's read them again right vs. 8 to 12. In the same region, there were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock By Night an angel of the Lord appeared to them in the glory of the Lord Shone around them and they were filled with great fear and the angel said to them fear not for behold. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people for unto you is Born This Day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ the lord and this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in the manger. Our first point is this fear not the Savior has come Fear not the Savior has come now before we go any further. I need to point out the awesome fact that of all the people in the world that God could have chosen to announce the birth of his son to the choose a Shepherds. like Okay. So a Shepherd would not be on many parents list of like first choices for careers for their kids, right? It's not it's not up there most most parents would not run hoping with this right they were they were Outsiders not the people that you would expect to hear the first announcement of the birth of a king but God loves the lowly. He loves Shepherd's right so much. So the Jesus is often described as the Good Shepherd rotten many of the key figures in the Bible were shepherds Abraham kept sheep Moses was a Shepherd. He was he was watching sheep in the desert when he saw the burning bush David the archetypal King The Shepherd from Bethlehem, right is often referred to as a shepherd. And that's that's something I never caught before the first announcement of the birth of the Good Shepherd is to Shepherds. I thought that was so cool. Right? It's so awesome that Jesus the Good Shepherd the helper of his people that is first announced to Shepherds keeping watch over. Their flock is such an appropriate thing that the announcement of his birth is made to people who are doing the work that he is so often identified with I left. I love these awesome details, right? It's it's such a good thing now. Moving on. I want you to picture this moment with me for a second. So matching the shepherd's they're out there that night right? They're trying to keep their their sheep safe from thieves in from from predators or cold. They stink no one likes them cuz they stink right there. They're frustrated because because sheep. I don't know if you know a sheep are are powerful stupid animals. If any of you have ever worked with sheep before you will know that they are as dumb as they are cute. They're incredibly frustrating so I can imagine being a Shepherd. It was frustrating. But but there they are the shepherd's it's dark it's cold as smelly they're tired when all of a sudden when all of a sudden there is light like they've never seen before in their life Illuminating the dark sleepy world around them. Might like they've never seen and they dropped their faces and fear and pain recited the angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord Shawn around them the glory of the Lord Shawn around them and they were filled with great fear not a little fear not kind of fear great fear fear the wood of impart it because they are witnessing a reflection of the very Shekinah Glory of God himself shining about them ride. The angel who comes to them has been in the presence of gods and said, she's reflecting the glory of God on to the Shepherds that are being visited and their reaction is the same as every other biblical reaction receive to an Angelic or Divine visit. fear Britney Spears, these guys Hit the Dirt they hit the dirt and were told they were filled with great fear and that fear would have been part been related to the glory of God that was Burning Brightly in the dark and saved on the pitch black night. If any of you have ever been out of the city at night time is different in the country is congested and souls are out there in this field. No lights trying to look after the Sheep dark to light the Shekinah Glory of God Is Burning around them and in that moment with the glory of the Lord radiating on field full of sheep. They would have been absolutely overwhelmed by his glory. By his majesty by his Holiness and simultaneously overcome by their own inadequacy Brokenness and sin as as much as they they are amazed at the glory on display. They are overwhelmed by their own need in this moment as there as as they are confronted with their own sinfulness. If it and then there all the ground there. Reading their faces in the dirt and because of their fear and their shame and then they hear the very first proclamation of the Gospel in the New Testament. Business angel angel looks at them. They're down there and he says fear not. Fear not for behold I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people for unto you is Born This Day in the city of David a savior. Who is Christ the lord. What was this moment? Like the shepherd are scared out of their minds great fear blinded by the glory of the Lord and in the angel test. Don't don't be afraid I have the greatest news. You could ever ask for he's he's here. He's here. The promised one is here the shoot of David the promisee the Savior the Christ. The Messiah has come he is here born today in the city of David a savior. He announces this and then he tells them how to find this newborn savior. He says you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a Manger. Dangerous as the savior is here and he is come humbly in the quiet not in the way you would expect the king to come. In three sentences three sentences the angel delivers the great news of the Gospel to the Shepherds. Any changes the world forever? fear not saviors come fear not the Savior has come this was this was great news then to the shepherd and it's great news now. Christian Our God came to us he came for us. This baby born is Jesus the son of God the second member of the Trinity fully God and fully man. This is our savior. This is this is our King, right the one who lived who died who rose again who ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father raining in power waiting for the day when he comes again to claim his people. all of our hope all of our joy of our peace is rooted in the fact that our savior came and his presence drives out fear. This this news drove out fear 2000 years ago and it has the power to drive out fear still. You're not it might be the best commander we could ever here today given the year that the dumpster fire of the year. The 2020s been right. This is not been this is not been an easy year for for most of us. And what's what's more is that Christmas is often a hard time for many of us without the added complication of a global pandemic. Write 4 for some the last thing we want to do a Christmas time as sing Joy to the World.
Sister perform any of us write this is not the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. This is this is a Time filled with Sorel tulipane the loneliness. Write for Summit schools boss with hopelessness with fear for many because of covid-19.
Christian the exhortation to fear not applies to you in this season in the midst of this difficult year just as much as it applied to the shepherds in the field when the angel said unto them. Write the Declaration made by the angels to the shepherd is a command not to fear the glory of God in that immediate situation, but it's more than that. It's more than that. It's a command not to fear because of the good news of great joy, that will be for all people.
the good news A great joy the drives our fears the new news that God has come to dwell with his people. God has come to dwell with his people and for us as Believers today. The good news is that God has come to dwell in his people. Right? God has come to dwell in his people Christian. You work in Guelph by the Holy Spirit the third person of the Trinity. What have you to fear? Your greatest need has been dealt with by the blood of the Savior. She paid for your sins and you've been adopted into the family of God a child a child of the most high. What have you to fear?
As a blood bought child of God, you're so vicious and eternal Destiny are the most secure things in all of creation. What have you to fear?
Love him if he's seen season is painful for you. If it's hard if it's lonely or hopeless or filled with sorrow or grief holdfast cling to the truth that Christ has come. Christ has come and is now given you his holy spirit to keep you until he comes again. He he sought you out. He bought you at the greatest Price and he loves you. He will keep you. fear not
don't please don't ever lose sight of the fact that what we're celebrating at. Christmas is not gift is not trees. It's not food. It's not Christmas socks. Is that all these things a Christmas does right ugly Christmas sweater party that's not work, but we're celebrating Christmas time. When we celebrate the birth of our savior arrival of the king the coming of the Son of God to save us from our sins to provide for us an eternity with him that we could not ever provide for ourselves believer. We have nothing we have nothing to fear. We have nothing to fear because the Savior proclaimed on this day to the Shepherds in those fields, right? We have nothing to fear because of him and the realization that we have nothing to fear should lead us to praise. Right step resist or second play with Jesus praise God. The Savior has come praise God. The Savior has come the arrival of the Saviour leads to God's praise. Look at me again ever since 13 to 20. Verses 13 to 20 in suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace among those with whom he is pleased with the angels went away from them into haven't the shepherd said to one another. Let us go over to Bethlehem and see the same as happened. What's the Lord has made known to us. I'm sure I'm sure that moment with the shepherd's wasn't as calm as a reason that's a let's go to Bethlehem and see what happened. I think it was probably a little more Panic than that slightly more excited. Sometimes you just got to use your imagination on somebody's passage. You can just let's go over to Bethlehem and see if they're like Did you see that when it says they went with haste they wouldn't really quickly right and they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a Manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that have been told to them concerning this child and all who heard it. Wondered what the Shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things pondering them in her heart in the Shepherds returned glorifying and praising God the Shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen as it had been told to them. Find imagine this with me again. The shepherd's they're on their faces. They're there in the dirt still having been told by the angel not to fear anything right there. They're trying to understand what the angel is just said, he's announced it. The coming of the cakes. The gospel has been proclaimed to the Shepherds adjusting the fact there's an eight and one Angel around them when all of a sudden all of a sudden there's a whole lot more Angels there is a host of heavenly beings write the sky is filled with a heavenly host and they're praising God. They're praising. God say glory to God in the highest in the highest highest. practicing pruner on the East End glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace salvation for those with whom he is pleased the right response the right response to the birth of the savior is praised. It is rejoicing and not just the praise and rejoice in God's people with the praise and we're joining of all of God's creation write all of attrition. Remember these angels these angels need no saving. They need no savior. There's sickness Angels dwelling and serving in the presence of God, and they are rejoicing at the news of the Savior born on the news of the Savior drives out fear and leads to praise and praise this from our perspective rooted in faith. The news of the Seder drives out fear and it leads to praise praise that is rooted in faith. You see these verses they tell us that when the angels went away from them into heaven the shepherd sex with another let us go over to Bethlehem and see the scene of this happen, which the Lord has made known to us. So the Angels leave the light has gone and it's silence. I can imagine it being just a deafening silence. Like I'm sure you've all experienced those those moments and worship work the people of God are surrounding you and they're praising and you're just you're odd by the sound of worship around you by the people lifting up their God and they serve I can imagine that this was like that on steroids, right? These are angels singing the glory of God and now they're gone. And so this shepherds are left in the field. Are there alone and they recover enough to have a conversation and then take a step of faith and go see if what they've been told is true or did they decide you will see what they've been told the truth is really they really didn't know if it was true. Did they I mean they can be pretty positive. I think most of them had never before seen a Heavenly Host declaring the glory of God in response to a birth announcement a side note. No birth announcement. You ever make will be as good as this one. So don't ever try and hopin you're never going to get there. Right? We'll just leave it there but the shepherd's recover and they're going to Bethlehem with a step of Faith. They were stepping out in obedience to see if what they've been told was true. They take the step of faith. And so the Bible says they went with haste they they removed the head that some ground to cover and they wanted to get there quickly so they went with haste and they found Mary and Joseph and the baby. lying in the major
And when they saw it, they made known the saying that I've been told them concerning this child and all who heard it wondered at what the Shepherds had told him how incredible was this moment when the Shepherds find the stable? They walk in and they see their newborn savior. I had I had this vision of them you're getting getting to town that they find the stable and they're all kind of outside the door right there their they're too like what what do we do now? Like what? What's what's what's next right that does are outside. The de must have been shocked at the humble origins of other promised Messiah and I think they were probably odd by the immensity of the moment pedir that they are experiencing or did it just seen and Angelic choir declaring the glory of God and now they're about to meet the Savior there people have been promised. I think there would have been an eager hesitation, right? There's there's that there's that. Oh my goodness. What are we doing? I'm really excited. I don't want to go anywhere. It's due to this eager haven't hesitation. They want to see they want to see the Savior. blister savior is it is it baby in a Manger in a stable? So so I can imagine them they're being hesitation, right? But whatever their feeling they go in. Dick dick dick dick go into the stable and they see this teenage mom and her bemused Husband by Joseph is a man. I wish we knew more about I cannot imagine what it was like to adopt the Son of God and to try and be his dad. I wish we knew more about him. But but anyway the shepherd's they go in to see Mary. They see Joseph. I see the see the baby they see Jesus and I can just imagine them are rotting in joy and Delight right? It's like it's it's it's like they're walking in the explode with excitement all this pent-up faith in in in in in energy their faith. Their faith has proved truth with the angel said was true. They went to Bethlehem. They found the baby in the manger. This was their savior this year. He was there was Jesus and they start to tell Mary and Joseph everything right says it says they made known what was the most positive I can imagine. This was like one of those moments when you and your kids come home from school and the really sad and I want to tell people things bubbling over and I was talking the same time as a bunch of shepherds.
Buddhist exploding with information and excitement all over Mary and Joseph right there all there and then in the middle of it in the middle of this this chaos and excitement and awe and wonder are Mary and Joseph amazed at the whole thing. They're sitting there Mary and Joseph the new parents to the savior of the world. They're hearing the story and it says that all who heard it all who heard the shepherd's wondered. At what the Shepherds told them all proof hurted wondered. At what the Shepherds told told him there was there was no more fear in them. There was Wonder there was Wonder at the birth of the Savior Wonder because their God had come near Our passage and by telling us the Shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen as it had been told to them. They were glorifying and praising God for all they had been heard and seen what what a transformation. Where's it gone from experience in great fear fear? Like they had never before known to experiencing wonder and awe that leads them to praise. They've got the drawn from the price. Did John from Fear to face? And this is the natural response to all who believe the good news that the Savior has come. Going from from Panic to praise from Fear to Faith is the natural response for all who believe the good news that the Savior has come Christian Christian when you heard the gospel and believed that you were a sinner in need of Grace when you finally came to Faith and accepted the gift that's so so they she knows offered us through Christ through the gospel wasn't your reaction joy and praise.
To glorify God at the gift that you've been given you were you were lost in your sin in the darkness and the futility of your own ways, and now you're found. You wish you were dead in your sin. And now you're alive Jesus this savior that was announced to the Shepherds literally raised you from your spiritual death. He literally raised you from the dead to a new life that will never end. If the hats if that doesn't lead you to praise if the reality of your faith and the work of Christ in your life doesn't make you praise God for his wonderful work. I don't know what will
I don't know what will This is the amazing truth the cast out fear. Jesus came and he did for his people what they could not do for themselves. He save them from their sins and doing that. He made them right with God. And it making them right with God. He eliminated the biggest fear the greatest fear that anyone could have the fear of God's Wrath poured out of them poured out on them with the coming of the savior's only good news for those who believe it.
Without Jesus saving work on the cross. We would all be rightly subject to God's righteous wrath and judgement far since and that. That is something worth being frightened enough.
God's Wrath is more distressing more petrify more terrifying more frightening than anything that we could ever comprehend because it is just and it is Holy. So so if you're here this morning, and you're not a Christian you do have reason to fear. You do have reason to fear Because unless you come to Jesus. I know and believe in him for servation. You will one day face God's righteous wrath and spending eternity in hell because of your sit. That is something to fear. The arrival of the savior is only good news to those who believe it and who come to Christ in faith. Are releasing this morning to the words of an angel from long ago. fear not for behold I bring you good news of great joy, that will be for all the people.
For unto you is Born This Day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ the lord The child born that day the savior Christ the lord Jesus he can he wants to he desires to save you from your sin and saving you to make you right with God saving you from the just penalty for your own sin. If you come to him, if you come to him, you will know the joy of Salvation, you will understand the great joy of this good news and you have no more reason to fear because you have salvation and rest in him in this savior. If you if you don't know Jesus come to him now come to him now and understand the Wonder of what we are celebrating a Christmas the good news of Christmas. Is that God came to Earth. He came to us his creation his people. This is a mystery. So profound and So Glorious that we will never fully understand the depths of it. But each year each year. We are wonderfully and gloriously reminded of it and as we read these familiar account it is good. It is so good to be reminded that we have nothing to fear. We have nothing to fear because the Savior has been born who is Christ the King Emmanuel God With Us But Thatcher's resonate in our hearts today and everyday so we can spend we can stand with the Heavenly hosts and Proclaim glory to God in the highest. Glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace among those with whom he is pleased with frame. Father we thank you for your word. We thank you for the good news of great joy that is for all people that you sent your son. Jesus here to this world. You created to save his people. We thank you for that reminder father. I pray that if there's any here this morning who don't understand or believe this news who aren't Christians will that they would come to you today? Because of the good news of the Gospel Falls and I pray that those of us who could do know you who are Christians or that we would continue to walk in faithfulness. Never forgetting the awesome Glory of this good news. You sent your son? To come be born live and die to save us. This is your son. Very God of very God light of light. We thank you for this awesome and profound mystery father never rode on a horse with the effect everything. We do be with us today at work through this now if we take communion, we also song Jesus holy mighty name.
How are we here? That's better. That's better. Good morning. For those of you who don't know me. My name is Reese, and I'm The Apprentice training Pastor here at Western Alliance Church. That means that if you're coming to the church plant info night tonight to get to hear me twice, so I'm sorry in advance for that. I apologize, but I'm happy. In 2019 days until Christmas.
That will never do that. Well in the first service to our Christmas let nothing you afraid bariatric kicked us off last week and did just as spectacular job of them of reminding us of God's sovereignty write the fact that God Reigns do we have nothing to fear fear? Not for God knows what he's doing and that is that is in that was such a great reminder, especially in the midst of 20/20 benefit of a dumpster fire of a year. And so it was good to be reminded that God is Sovereign right? God is good. God is in control god reigns this morning. I get the pleasure of bring the second message in our series fear not John has come near That's the title this morning fear. Not God has come here and I need to confess to you that I have been childishly excited to preach this message for weeks. I've been I've been annoying and how excited I've been I've been repeatedly texting you and talking to him during the day and then bombarding my wife and and really anybody that I can nail down to one spot for long enough for me to say how excited I am. They've been told that it is just it's it's it's a passage that evokes excitement because the news it declares is so good at the heart of our texts this morning is the message that we serve a God who has come to us. We serve a God who is come to us. That's that's the message of Christmas. We are not God has come near future. Not God has come near our savior has come to us as Christians. We don't have to worry about trying to get to God. We don't have to worry about trying to impress him or please him or live in such a way that we're meeting all the rules and regulations that are there. We do not need to fear fully strive to be good enough for God to accept us instead of serving God. Do we have to try to get you or to impress? We serve a God who knew that we could never ever get the him and so he
If that doesn't excite you, you're excited as broken key key came to us thinking about this has brought me to Worship in tears of the past couple weeks as I've been preparing this message show up. If you have your Bibles, please open the loop to Luke Chapter 2 where to be looking at vs. 8 to 20, right? So if you got a Red Robin open up to their Loop 28220 if you're able why don't you stay in this morning and will read God's word. And then we'll pray. Luke you starting adversity out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night and an angel of the Lord appeared to them in the glory of the Lord Shone around it and they were filled with great fear and the angel said to them fear not for behold. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people for unto you is Born This Day in the city of David a savior who is Christ the lord and this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. When the angels went away from them into having the shepherd said to one another let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us and they went with haste and I found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the manger do when they saw it. They made known the saying that I've been told to them concerning this child and all who heard it wondered. I want the shepherd's at Oldham, but Mary treasured up these things and pondering them in her heart and the Shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen as I have been told to them while we thank you for your word.
You do so much for us three word you teach us you correct this year because father this morning I pray that you would encourage us. The statistic the good news of the Gospel father is is something that causes us not to fear and follow replay the song that you were Goforth of power that we would be encouraged by the story that we are still familiar with father that you lift the familiarity from us that we would see this again with new and and and wonderful eyes in all of the work that you've done. We have some song Jesus. Mighty name. Amen.
Let nothing you up right? Let nothing your fight is such a great title for Christmas series was because it cuts stole wonderfully to the heart of the Gospel Our Savior came near so we need not fear. Our Savior came here, so we need not fear. This is a reminder that we need so often and we need especially in these days and we see this reminder so clearly in versus 8 to 12 still look there with me again, really 8 to 12 in the same region. There were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night and an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord Shone around them and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them fear not fear not for behold. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people for unto you is Born This Day in the city of David a savior. Who is Christ the Lord in this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a Manger. Our first point is this fear not the Savior has come. Fear not the Savior has come now before we go any further. We need to point out the fact that of all the people God could have announced the birth of his son to he chose the Shepherds. Now in the ancient near East Shepherd would not have been at the top of the list that parents had four jobs. They want their their kids to do Shepherds not on that list as it's not very high author. Most children would not have the most parents would not have wanted this for their kids Shepherds were Outsiders. They were the people that you would expect to hear the announcement of the birth of the king but God loves the lowly and God loves Shepherds so much. So that Jesus is so often described to us as a Shepherd as the Good Shepherd and so much till the god regularly uses Shepherds for his work in the Bible. We see the Abraham kept blocks, right Moses was a Shepherd when he saw the burning bush King David the shepherd boy from Bethlehem, right the archetype of the king that we see through it all scripture. These men were all Shepherds. God loves the imagery. The shepherd and so the first announcement of the birth of the Good Shepherd is the shepherd's I love that. It's it's so good the Jesus the Good Shepherd the helper of as paper people is is announced first two people two men doing the work of shepherding the work that Jesus is so often said to be doing just wonderful image Reno now want you to picture this moment with me. The shepherds are out there out there at night trying to keep their flocks from from predators and from thieves. They're cold. They stink no one likes them cuz they stink right there their they're out there if they're frustrated because sheep are powerfully stupid animals. I don't know if any of you have ever worked with sheep before but they are as dumb as they are cute third third not fun to look after and so I can imagine the shepherd's our eyes are frustrated trying to keep all the s*** together and and it's night, right? So they're out there. It's dark it's cold. It's smelly and they're tired and in pain all of a sudden all of a sudden there is light like they never seen before in their entire lives surrounding them Illuminating. The Sleepy Darkness said they would have been clothing is this incredible brightness if you if you've ever been out of the city at night if you've ever been away from the city lights in the streets in the cars, The dark in the country is a different kind of dark then we get here until it. Is it is it thick and deep Darkness? Willie Shavers women out there in the dark and then all of a sudden but glory of God is shining around them and they hit the dirt in pain and in fear verse 9 says it's an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord the glory of the Lord Shone around them and they were filled with great fear. Not a little fear not a hint of fear. Great fear there if you're good because they are witnessing the Shekinah Glory the very glory of God shining about them in this moment is about an asset. She is reflecting the glory of God to this feels that he has appeared to write to these to the Shepherds and their sheep. In the reaction of the Shepherds is the same as the reaction of every biblical account. We have of an Angelic or Divine visit. fear they are afraid. These guys they hit the dirt and we're told they're filled with a great fear and that fear would have been related to the glory of God that is radiating that is Burning Brightly in the darkness in that moment with the glory of God radiating on the fields around them. They would have been absolutely overwhelmed absolutely overwhelmed with the glory of God and with the Majesty of God and with the Holiness of God and they would have been simultaneously overcome by their own sin their own Brokenness and their own inadequacy. Send it through their right through the brightness. You got a shiny around they're burying their faces in the ground because of their fear and because of the shame and then they hear the very first the very first proclamation of the Gospel recorded in the New Testament. These guys looks at them and he says fear not fear not for behold. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people for all the people for unto you for unto you is Born This Day in the city of David a savior. A savior who is Christ the Lord by the glory of the Lord is in this angel said to them don't be afraid fear not I have I have the greatest news you could ever hear he is here. The promised one is here the promise Steve the root of David the shoot of Jesse the Savior the Messiah the king he's here. He's come he was born today in the city of David A Savior and then he tells the shepherd's the smelly men in the field how to find their King. He says you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a Manger. The savior is here. He has come and he's come humbly in the quiet not the way you would expect the king to come in in three sentences. The angel delivers the great news of the Gospel to the Shepherds changes the world forever. fear not Fear not a savior has come. This is the greatest news. This is great news, then it is great news stick a Christian believer Our God came for us. He came for us this baby born is Jesus.
All right that Jesus is the son of God is the second member of the Trinity fully God fully man. This is this is our savior. This is our King write this announcement is for the one who lived who died who Rosa get it in writing and defeated Satan sin and death in his feet. And now raining at the right hand of God the Father waiting the date when he comes again when he come. Amen. That was a good one for an amen. Right. He's coming again for his people of Our Hope. all of our joy All of our peace is rooted in the fact that our savior came. Our Savior has come for his people his presence drives out fear read this news drove out fear 2000 years ago and it drives out fear still you're not it might be the best command we could get in 2020 right in this in the stranger the commands of to fear not it is such a good thing to to be told with a difficult year and Christmas this time of year is often a hard time of year for people regardless of their being a global pandemic. Perform any of us the last thing we want to do it this time of year is sing Joy to the World. These are the members of our church family who who this is not the most wonderful time of the year for for some of us. This is the time of store row and pain and loss and loneliness feel the hopelessness in fear for for many because of of the covid-19 been a year filled with fear fear fear of the unknown. Don't fear of sickness fear death, but it need not be this way. Christian the exhortation to fear not applies to you in this season in this date today in this difficult year just as much as it applied to the Shepherds being told not to fear In this passage write the Declaration made by the angel is just as applicable today, right? It's it's a command in that moment not to fear the glory of God, but more than that. It is a command not to fear because of the good news of great joy that will be for all people the good news of great. Joy that drives out fear. This news is the news that God has come to dwell with his people. Right. Has come to dwell with the people as Christians today. God has come to dwell in his people. He dwells in a scripture you are in Guelph by the Holy Spirit indwell by the Holy Spirit the third person of the Trinity. What have you to fear?
Your greatest need has been dealt with by the blood of the Savior born he paid for your sins. He adopted you into the family of God. You are a child of the most high. What have you to fear?
As a pint of blood bought child of God your salvation and eternal Destiny are the most secure things in all of creation. What have you to fear?
Love it if this season is painful for you if it's heavy lonely hopeless. Filled with with with Sorel or with brief cling to the truth hold fast to the truth that Christ has come. Christ has come in now. He is giving you his holy spirit to keep you until he comes again. He he sought you out Believers. He bought you a greatest priced. He loves you. He will keep you fear not. Fear not do not ever please do not lose sight of the fact that what we are celebrating at Christmas is the fact that our savior was born Our God came to the coming of the Son of God to save his people from our since that's what we celebrate at Christmas, right? He came to revive for us the eternity we could not provide for ourselves. Chris Chris is about so much more than funky socks and sweaters. Right ugly Christmas sweater parties in food, all these things that we do it forces 9th. Don't get lost in the fact that Christmas we are celebrating the birth of the Savior who came to us. We have nothing to fear believer Christian. We have nothing to fear because of this savior proclaimed on this day the birth of this baby in Bethlehem, right should lead us to praise because we have nothing to fear or that's the second thing we see which is praise the Savior has come Praise God the Savior has come the arrival of the state of your leads to God's praise. Look with me. Again. Converse is 13 to 20. Troy University 13 and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace among those with whom he is pleased and when the angels went away from them into heaven the shepherd said to one another let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened. What's the Lord has made known to us, which the Lord God himself made this note to these people. Let's go see the scene with the Lord has made no dust and they went with haste they would very quickly. Okay, if what that means we hates they want fast and they found Mary and Joseph and the baby. Lying in a manger and when they saw it when they saw their savior, they made known the saying that have been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered. Can Oliver to be brought to our eye with a shepherd's told them but Mary treasured up all these things pondering them in her heart and the Shepherds returned glorifying and praising God glorifying and praising God for all that. They'd seen and heard as it had been told to them. So imagine imagine with me this year this disorder story passages you get to use your staying to fight imagination a little bit to get to imagine this scenario. So imagine the shepherd's there their they're in the dirt the Angels said don't fear that this the stage come right have had good news for you. He's here there they're on the floor of the trying to understand what the angel is just said for them. Cuz even though he said don't be afraid they're probably still a little bit afraid and they might not have heard very clearly. What was said to have to live there on the floor thinking about what he said that's good news.
Whole bunch of angels angels are praising God. It says they're praising God saying glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace among those with whom he is pleased the right response to the birth of the savior is praise. We still here that the angel makes the announcement of the savior's birth and then these angels show up and they are praise and glorify God the right response to the birth of the savior is praised and not just the price of God's people with the praise of all of creation, right? Remember these angels need no saving. They need no saving. They haven't seen that they do well in the presence of God serving him. Then there were Joy sitting at the news of the Savior sent to save the people of God the news of the Savior drives out fear and leads to praise and praise that is from our perspective rooted in face.
You see these verses that's also when the angels went away from them into heaven with the angels left. The shepherd's the shepherd's set to one another. Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened with the Lord has made known to us know I'm willing to bet they didn't say it like that, but this will be the best time and see this thing does happen with North We got to go right there. Like they're like we need to go now. We have to go to Bethlehem. We have to see if this thing that we have just heard is true there like they're dropping their staff through trying to get their sheets to stay in one's bothered round straw. See if anyone's to stay behind the washing machine in case they go missing their freaking out but they fall do we need to go to Bethlehem? We need to go now we have to go it says they went with a Sprite they recovered enough they recovered enough from the shop to take the step of Faith to go and see if what they had been told was true because they really didn't know if it was true. Right they could be pretty sure they can be pretty positive because I'm willing to bet that none of them had ever been witness to an Angelic birth announcement before On a completely unrelated note don't ever try and talk this birth announcement. You're having a kid or you've had a kid. This one wins a crowd of angels declaring. The birth of the savior is the best person out there you could ever see so it's true slick go to Bethlehem, and they're going there and Faith they're going they're hoping that this is real. Just clean to the face that what they've been told is true. And so it says they went with haste they went quickly and they found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger and when they sought they made known the saying they've been told him concerning this child and all who heard it wondered all who heard it were overcome with us. And with the shepherd's had pulled them know how amazing what the heck moments when the Shepherds find the stable and walk in to see their newborn Kate their savior. I can imagine imagine they get to Bethlehem, they find the stable and and there's the door and they're all outside the door like What it what are you now? Like do we go in should we knock it? Is it a true? If we go in here, there's there's the savior they would have been given Catherine outside. I think filled with an eager hesitation like this is this is it like how is this and how is our savior born here that think they would have been awed by the humility of the situation the fact that that Christ was born in a stable in there and they're out there and they're like, we want to see him. We want to see our savior but this is a barn why is here and they're in their door torn, but eventually they did get that place when they go in. a walk-in Missy this teenage mom I see her broom camera from youth husband, right? I think Joseph is one of the most interesting characters in the Bible that we know nothing about. I wish we knew more about this guy who had to try and parent the Son of God do it. Rough but we got we got married, right? We are Joseph and we have the baby. We have Jesus in a seal and they are rough in joy and excitement. I bet they just explode everywhere ears. I feel like this is this is one of those moments like when kids come home from school or from a birthday party and it got so much they want to tell her mom and dad and they walk in there like 4-5. They're all stumbling over the words as well. Start at the same time they're worked up and they're excited and you got married in Joseph. Just sitting there. Todd at everything that is happening. Right these things must have been so excited and you got Mary and Joseph amazed at what they're being told here. Here are the new parents the parents of the savior of the world and they're sitting there their hearing the story and it says of all who heard it wondered. They were all odd that were the Shepherds told them. There was there was no more fear. There was Wonder Wonder at the birth of the Savior Wonder because their God God had come near right in our passage Ends by telling us the Shepherds returned to their fields returned glorifying and praising God glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen as it had been told them they were glorifying and praising God for all the day at heard and seen what a transformation receiving these men. They've gone from experience in great fear Terror. Like they've never known figure that they had never before experienced experiencing wonder I would God I told him and show them wonder that led them to praise they've gone from Panic to praise. They've gone from Fear to Faith. And that transition from Panic to praise from Fear to Faith is the natural response to all who believe the good news at the Savior has come. To go from Fear to Faith is the natural response to all who believe the good news that the savior of tabuk believer when you heard the gospel and first realize that you were a sinner in need of Salvation you finally came to Faith and accepted the free gift of Salvation offered to you through Jesus wasn't your reaction joy and praise. You were lost in darkness and it is the fee to T of your own ways, and now you're not. You work you were dead in your own sin. And now you're alive that were reading about literally raised you from spiritual death. He literally the dead and you are now alive right in a life that will never end if the reality of your faith in the truth of the work of Christ in your life does not lead you to Joy and praise. I don't know what to say. This is this is a miraculous thing. It is incredible is beyond understanding. This is the amazing truth that casts out fear. This is the amazing truth the cast of fear Jesus she came and he did for his people what they could not do for themselves to save them from their sins and in doing that made them right with God eliminating the biggest fear that anyone could have the fear of God's Wrath poured out on us Jesus is coming and saving it was people eliminates. His people's greatest fear. The fear of God's Wrath. You see without without Christ's saving work on the cross. We would all be rightly subject to God's righteous wrath and judgment for our sins. And that is something worth being afraid of
God Wrath is is more distressing. It's more petrifying more terrifying more frightening than anything that we could ever comprehend because it is just and it is Holy. So if you're here this morning, and you're not a Christian you have reason to fear. the good news of the Gospel is only good news for those who hear it and believe
it is if you're here and you're not a Christian unless you come to Jesus you will one day face drawers righteous wrath and if you face that Rath without the blood of Christ, you will spend eternity in hell.
That is something to fear. But listen, listen to the words of an Angel. fear not
Fear not for behold I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people this good news of great joy that will be for all who believe it For unto you is Born This Day in the city of David a savior one who can save you from your sins. Who is Christ the lord the child born that day the child born that day the savior Christ the lord Jesus he wants to he desires to save you from your sin. She can save you he wants to save you an in Saving you he will make you right with God. If you come to him today you will you will know the great news the great joy of this good news, and you have reason not to fear. Are you a reason not to fear because you will have the salvation and the rest that Christ offers. If you are here this morning, you're listening online. If you're if you're hearing this message price can stay if you believe it today believe it come to him now and understand the Wonder of what it is. We are really celebrating at Christmas the good news of Christmas. The good news of Christmas is that God came to Earth he came to us to his creation to his people he came and because he came we do not need to fear. This is a mystery Gods coming to Earth is a mystery. So profound and So Glorious that we will never fully understand it steps. But each year. We are reminded of it right each year. We are reminded of it as we read these familiar account. It is so good to be reminded that we have nothing to fear because the Savior has been born who is Christ. The King Jesus Emmanuel God With Us let that truth resonate in our hearts today that the truth resonate with us all our day so we can stand we can stand with the Heavenly hosts and we can Proclaim glory to God in the highest. Glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.
Bobby thank you for your word. Thank you for Jesus for the birth of the Savior father that you sent to Earth to save your people cuz we could not save ourselves what I pray for anybody was here this morning who is not stable that you would bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus. They would see the word that he did for them. They would understand a good news of the Savior born in the city of David father. They would come to him with joy. That was Lisa praising you what I put you through the through this now or do we take communion while do this as we go further into this Christmas season that we would remember that we need not fear because of the birth of the state that we remember every year. We also saw in his wonderful name. Amen.
Well, good morning shirts. Are we doing? Good. That was good. Not bad. Not bad. It's good to see you get to be here. If if you don't know who I am. I feel like you don't know me. My name is Reese IMD Apprentice Church Plant Pastor here at Westland Alliance Church in what that means if you're coming to the church point in Flight tonight, you get to hear me twice. So I'm sorry I'm front. That's a lot but
That wasn't that went over real bad. I'm not going to lie to you. I am less than enthused by a lack of enthusiasm about Christmas but last week just started on R&R Christmas sermon series let nothing you a fright right let nothing you afraid very Usher kicked us off last week and did a great job of just explained to us that the glory of God sovereignty and goodness of the fact that God is in control, right? We need not fear because God is in control. What a great reminder that was last week in the midst of this crazy year. It's good to be reminded at god reigns is in control and does not shocked by anything that's happening in this morning. I bring you the second message in our Christmas series fear not near that that's the title of a message today fear. Not God has come near and I need to confess you now that I've been childishly excited to preach this message for 4 weeks. We we started Happy for the Christmas series a couple of weeks ago. And and when I got to sign this texting this message, I got really excited in my excitement continue to mount to the point where I've been annoying most of the people in regular contact around me. Like I'll text you or go bug him in his office like me as my wife and I can pin down long enough for me to say I'm excited as heard me say how excited I am about this text today and and I was getting more and more excited because the more and more time I got to spend in this passage. I was just overwhelmed by the good news. We see here in our texts at the heart of our text is the message that we serve a God who came to us. We serve a God who came to us. How amazing is that? That's the message of Christmas fear. Not God has come near our savior has come to us as Christians. We we do not even try to earn God's favor. We do not need to try to impress him. We do not need to try and make our way to him to earn our Salvation. No, no. No, we we serve a God that that we do not need to impress or strive to get to instead. We serve a God who knew our need who knew that we are incapable of getting to him, right? He moved toward us he came to us if that if that doesn't excite you your Exciter is broken like that. I don't I don't want to study. God came to us. So grab your bible. If you have an opening up, please to Luke Chapter 2 Luke to burgundy looking at vs. 8 to 20. Luke 2 820 if you're able this morning when we stand for the reading of God's word And then we'll pray and we'll dive in your Passage. Luke to starting verse 8 it is the same region there were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night and an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord Shone around them and they were filled with great fear and the angel said to them fear not for behold. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people for unto you is Born This Day in the city of David a savior. Who is Christ the Lord in this will be assigned to you. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in the manger and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace among those with whom he is pleased and when the angels went away from them into having the shepherd said to one another let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has been done has happened at which is the which the Lord has made known to us. And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a Manger or they saw they made known the saying that have been told to them concerning this child and all who heard it wonder what the shepherd's told them. But Mary treasured up all these things pondering them in her heart and the Shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen as I've been told to them was prey father. We thank you for your word over. Thank you for the glory on display or for us to see here where we thank you for the story. This account of Jesus's birth in the announcement of the angels to the Shepherds follow. We pray Lord. I pray now that you would even though we're so familiar with this possible that you would give us fresh eyes to see or just the amazing display of your glory and your goodness and your mercy that is here for us father pray that you would help us to see a new The Wonder of this passes or that we will be reminded that we have nothing to fear. Are we have nothing to fear because you sent your son and he has come near to us. Us today or be with me as I preach reassess all in Jesus. Mighty name. Amen.
Let nothing you a fright let nothing you afraid to such a great title for Christmas for your series because it cuts so wonderfully to the heart of the Gospel right our savior came near so we need not fear Our Savior came near so we need not fear. This is a reminder. We need daily. We need to so often right and it's a reminder that we're giving here in versus 8 to 12 of our passes to look with me again there verses 8 and in the same region, they were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night and an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord Shone around them and they were filled with great fear and the angel said to them fear not for behold. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people for unto you is Born This Day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ the lord and this will be assigned to you. You will find babe. Wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a Manger. Our first point is this fear not the Savior has come fear not the Savior has come now before I move on we tried to talk about the fact that the first people write that in all the world that God announces the birth of his son to our Shepherds Shepherds now, I don't know if you know this but the job Shepherd was not at the top of the list that parents had running for what they want their kids to do when they grew up right? It wasn't like like doctor lawyer Shepherd, right? It was Doctor lawyer pretty much everything else you think of Ben Shepperd Price ever. They were outcasts expect to be given the announcement of the birth of the King, right? But God loves the lowly God's God loves Shepherds so much so that his son. Jesus is frequently identified as a Shepherd as the Good Shepherd and end in God we routinely used Shepherds for his purposes in the Bible right we see if we see Abraham keeping flocks and got Moses Moses was looking after sheep in the wilderness when he saw the burning bush David Wright the hit the Shepherd from Bethlehem with keeping sheep right he was eating and he goes on to become the archetypal king of Israel every King we see coming after missed compared to David David was a Shepherd it is so wonderful that the first announcement of the birth of the Good Shepherd is made to Shepherd Jesus the good shepherd shepherd the helper of his people has come so is so incredibly appropriate to get that the announcement of the birth of the Good Shepherd is made to those who are doing the work that you so often identified with So I want you out of the picture with me this the story right the one with the Bible. Sometimes we get to use are Sanctified imagination that we could do visualize a little bit what's going on? So imagine with me the shepherds are out there at night night in in in the wilderness in the country is different than night in the city. If you've ever left town at night, if you going out to the country dark is a different kind of dark out there. So they're out there in the dark. It's night, right? They're trying to keep their their sheep safe from from thieves and from predators and and they're cold. They stink no one likes them cuz they stink if they're frustrated because I don't know if you know this ship are powerfully stupid animals. I've worked on the farm. I work with a bunch of animals sheep sheep is dumb that they they are not smart. They are as stupid as they are cute. And so I can imagine being a Shepherd is incredibly frustrating and so so they're out there right there. It's dark there tired. It's cold. Everything stinks is just a regular night in the field who would all the sudden right. And there is light like they have never experienced before in all of their lives Illuminating the Sleepy Darkness around them. They're out there in the office. Then there's a light like they've never seen and then they drop to their faces in pain and fear verse 9 says as an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord the glory of the Lord Shone around them and they were filled with great fear not a little fear not some fear. Great fear that fear the fear that they were experiencing what of impart them because they are witnessing In This Moment the Shekinah Glory of God shining about the very glory of the presence of the Lord is Illuminating the world around them is Angel comes to them. He's been in the presence of reflecting the glory of God. It's reflecting God's glory on the Shepherds that are being visited and their reaction is the same as every other biblical account. We are given of an angelical Divine visit. Fear they are terrified these guys Hit the Dirt, right and we're told they're filled with great fear and that fear would have been related to the glory of God that is Burning Brightly in the darkness. You see in this moment with the radiance of God's glory shining around them. They would have been absolutely overwhelmed by God's glory. By God's Majesty by God's holiness and they would have been simultaneously overcome with the truth of their own sin their own Brokenness and their own inadequacy. They would have been chest fracked cuz cuz they're being confronted with the reality of who they are and their sinfulness with the glory in the Holiness and the unapproachable disapprove. God is in this moment and they're on the ground and they're they're in fear and then they hear they hear the very first proclamation of the gospel and all the New Testament the very first proclamation of the Gospel in the angel looks then when he says that she says fear not fear not for behold. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people for unto you unto you is Born This Day in the city of David a savior. A savior who is Christ the lord they would have in that moment understood their need for a savior better than any other moment in their entire life cuz they understand who God is and who they are in front of God, and they would know that they need a savior so I can imagine what this moment was. Like there's there's the shepherd's blinded by the glory of God and the angel said to them fear not Don't don't be afraid I have the best news you could ever hear. He's here. He has come the promised one the shoot of David the seed that has been promised you the root of Jesse Keith Scherer write the Messiah the Christ the Savior, he's come tonight born this day in the city of David a savior the angel declares this good news to them. And then he tells them where they can find the savior. He says you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a Manger. Angel says the savior is here and he is come he's come humbly in the quiet in the dark born and placed into a major. This is not the way that you would expect the king to come. In in three sentences the angel delivers the good news of the Gospel to the Shepherds and changes the world forever three sentences. Not a savior has come. Fear not a savior has come this was this was great news then and it's great news still Our God came for us. He came for us. This baby born is Jesus the son of God the third member of the Trinity fully God and fully man. This is our savior our King. He was born lived. I rose again from the dead ascended into heaven who is right now seated at the right hand of God the Father ruling and reigning and waiting the date when he comes again to claim his bride to claim his people. This is the savior proclaimed this day. all of our hope All of our joy, all of our peace is rooted in the fact that this savior came. His presence drives out fear. This news is your hood troll vote for 2,000 years ago and it drives out fear still. Honestly fear not might be the best thing we can hear I give it everything that has happened this year. 20/20 it's been a year. It's been a bit of a dumpster fire in here. We are forgiven this this this Command right to fear not that's such a good thing to hear. What's more is is is that Christmas is often a hard time for many of us without the added complication of a global pandemic. There there are many of us here who the last thing we want to do in this season is sing Joy to the World. For a lot of our brothers and sisters who are part of our church, you know, this is not the most wonderful time of the year for some of us some of us. This is the time of Sorrow of pain of loneliness. We're we're we're hopeless were alone. You don't we feel lost at this time of year to fear for many this year 2020 has been a year of fear because of Kobe Bryant been filled with fear of the unknown with fear of sickness fear death, but didn't heed not be this way. We do not need to live in fear Christian the exhortation to fear not applies to you in this season at this moment in the midst of this difficult year exactly the same as it applied to the Shepherds then in this field two thousand years ago. Did the Declaration the angel makes to the Shepherds is a command not to fear the glory of God in that moment, but it's more than that is a command not to fear its command not to fear because of the good news of great joy, that will be for all the people. The good news of great. Joy drives out fear write the good news at the upgrade for that drives. Our fears the news that our God has come to us. God has come to dwell with his people for Christian. God has come to dwell in his people, right? I believe it here in wealth by the Holy Spirit Christian. You have the Holy Spirit the third member of the Trinity dwelling in you. What have you to fear? Your greatest need has been dealt with by the blood of the savior. He paid for your sense. this baby born Pay for your sins, you have been adopted into the family of God a child of the most high. What have you to fear?
Isaac has a blood bought child of God your salvation and eternal Destiny are the most secure things in all of creation. What have you fear?
Love it. If this season is painful for you, if it's if it's lonely or hopeless or filled with sorrow or grief holdfast cling to the truth. The Christ has come. Christ has come and he is now giving you his holy spirit to keep you until he comes again. He sought you out. He sought you out he bought you at greatest rice. He loves you. He will keep you fear not. Fear not do not lose sight of the fact that what we are celebrating at Christmas is the birth of our savior. This is not about gifts. This is not about ugly Christmas sweater parties are food for all the things that we got lost up in Christmas socks. The only strange things we do nothing to do with what we are celebrating a Christmas and we so often gets sucked up into that Vortex up of holiday nonsense don't know what we are celebrating at Christmas is the birth of our savior the coming of the Son of God to save his people from their sins provide for us to Eternity with him that we could not provide our self believer. We have nothing to fear because of the Savior proclaimed on This Day proclaimed by the angels to the Shepherds in those fields on that night. And the realization that we have nothing to fear should lead us to price it should lead us to praise and that brings us to our second language is this phrase God the Savior has come praise God. The Savior has come the arrival of the Savior leads to praise. Look at me again ever since 13 to 20. Bristol TN and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace among those with whom he is pleased and when the angels went away from them into heaven the shepherd's Tech21 another let us go over the Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us and they went with she still found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a Manger. And when they saw it, let me know when the saying that I've been told to them concerning this child and all who heard it wondered all who heard it were awed at what the shepherd's told them. But Mary treasured up all these things pondering them in her heart and the Shepherds returned glorifying and praising God. They were turn to glorifying and praising God for all the day scene and herd has as it had been told to them or I imagine with me again for a minute. There's the shepherd's they're on their faces right having been told by the angel this good news. They're trying to understand what it is. The angel said I can imagine there a little shook right there. They're still there on the ground natives just told him some crazy news. They're trying to wrap their heads around the fact that the promised Messiah that their people have been waiting for thousands of years for has been born in Bethlehem. That he's lying in a Manger. They're trying to absorb like they're trying to absorb all this information while they're still overwhelmed by the glory of the brightness of God and then a whole bunch more Angels show up. The sky is filled with a heavenly host and they're praising God think glory to God in the highest glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace salvation for those who wish to kiss please the right response the right response to the news of the birth of the savior is praised. It is praise and not just the praise of God's people with the praise of all of his creation. All of his reason we need to remember that these angels who are praising. God need no saving. They need no saving they are sinless they do well and serve in the very presence of cut and they are here in this field on this night raising God for the fact that the Savior has come to Earth the news of the Savior drives out fear and leads to praise praise that is from our perspective rooted in faith. We see the Indies versus when they tell us that when the angels went away from them into having the shepherd said to one another let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened with the Lord has made known to us the Angels believe there's this deafening silence as void. You know, now overwhelms in the glory of God has faded are there in the dark in the silence and they're like we got to go we need to go to Bethlehem to see this thing. They recover enough. They were covered up the side. They have to go to Bethlehem. They start going and in and they take this as a step of Faith, right? They recover enough to take the step of Faith to go and see if what they were told is really true because they didn't didn't really know. It was true today. I think they can be pretty positive. I'm sure that none of them had ever been subject to an Angelic birth announcement before they probably never seen a Heavenly Host declaring the glory of God in response to a birth announcement completely unrelated side note. No birth announcement. You will ever make will ever top this. Okay. So just know that go to the outside of the birth of Jesus that announce was always going to win face to the Bible says it says they went with haste they moved with haste and they found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a Manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that I've been told them concerning this child and all who heard it wondered what the shepherd's had told them all who heard it felt off the Shepherds who told him how amazing was this moment for the Shepherds have left their sheep. Did they come to Bethlehem? They found the stable in it, and there's the door to go in and they're outside in like what do we do now? They're there their they're feared. They're filled with with this eager hesitation. Cuz they've just been told the Savior that they've been waiting for. The other people been waiting for is in this stable so that they're outside. I'm sure shot at at at at the humility of the situation right that that their Messiah has been born in a manger and there and they're out there and I think they're a little conflicted. They want to see the Savior but it's their savior. Did they want to go in here and see what's going on? But there I think there could be a little bit afraid. What if we come this way would have been told these things and it's not true what if it's not true, but it but either way they were cover and they go in. And their faith is proved true. Did they walk into the this manger stable? And they see this teenage mom see Mary the sea Joseph Wright heard from used husband. Who I think I wish we knew I wish we knew more about Joseph the guy had to try and raise the son of God.
white guy there was a walk in the sea Mary. They see Joseph. They see Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in the major and in my mind, they go bananas they walk in and make a wrapped with joy. It was Thanksgiving was celebrated in in my mind as their faith proof through their reactions. Like what happens when your kids come home from a school field trip or a party or they know their grandparents place. They're all hopped up on Mountain Dew and they come over to kick in the door and they were singing this in there. And in the midst of this campus in the midst of this Mayhem of the celebration of this overwhelming moment of joy, you have Mary and Joseph amazed at the whole thing just in awe of what's Happening Here. You're a Mary and Joseph you do new parents to the savior of the world. It's in there and they're sitting here hearing this story and it says all who heard it. Wondered. In awe at what the Shepherds told him? There was a no more fear in them. There was Wonder there was off. Wonder if the birth of the Savior Wonder because their God had come near had come to them our passage Ends by telling us that the Shepherds returned. They went back to their sheep returns glorifying and praising God for all the and heard and seen as it had been told to them. They were glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen what a transformation What is change in these men in the space of a few hours they've gone from experiencing great fear fear. Like they had never before experienced in all their lives to experiencing wonder the LED them to praise God. They've gone stick on from Panic to praise the gun from Fear to Faith or the gun from Fear to faith in this is this should be the natural response to all who believe the good news that the Savior has come. Christian Christian when you first heard the gospel and realize your need for a savior and came to Christ and receive the free gift of Grace, right and you accepted the gift of Salvation offered to us in Jesus wasn't your reaction joy and Stan empres.
It should be you see we were lost in the darkness and futility of her own ways. And now we're found the bleed leader you you were dead. And now you're alive Jesus literally this savior Born This Day literally raised you from death to life from spiritual death to life that will last for ever a light that will never end if the reality of your faith if the truth of the work of Christ in your life does not make you praise God for his wonderful work of Salvation then I don't know what to say. I don't know what to tell you. This is the amazing truth that casts out all fear. Jesus came. Jesus came and did for his people what they could not do for themselves. He saved them from their sins and in doing so made them right with God and in making us right with God. And in doing that Christ has eliminated the biggest fear that anyone could have fear of God's Wrath poured out.
You see the good news of the Savior born is only good. No good news to those who believe it and who resting price. She without Jesus saving work on the cross. We would all be rightly subject to God's righteous Wrath. Because of our sins we will be rightly subject to God's righteous judgment and that is something worth being frightened up.
God's Wrath is more distressing more petrifying more more frightening. More terrifying than anything that we could ever comprehend because it is just and because it is Holy. So if you if you hear this morning you sure this morning you're not a Christian you do have reason to fear you do because unless you come to Christ one day you will stand before God and you will be subject to his righteous Wrath. and in his Justice and in his Mercy Did the punishment for the guilty is an eternity in hell because of sin? That is something to fear.
but listen again to the words of an angel from long ago fear not Fear not for behold I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people for unto you is Born This Day in the city of David a savior.
A savior one who can save you from your sins. Who is Christ the lord? The child born that day the savior Christ the lord Jesus. She can't he wants to he desires to save you from your sin and it's saving you to make you right with God. If you come to him, you will know the great joy of the good news for and you will have reason not to fear because you will have salvation and rest and if you don't know him if you're here and you're not a believe you're if you don't know him come to him now and understand the Wonder of what it is. We are celebrating Christmas. The good news of Christmas is that God came to Earth he came to us if he came to his creation to his people. This is a mystery show marvelous. So profound that we will never fully understand it. But each year we are reminded of it. We are reminded of this mystery every year as we read these familiars accounts and it is good. It is so good. We have nothing to fear. We have nothing to fear because a savior has been born. Who is Christ the King. Jesus Emmanuel God With Us But that's truth resonate in our hearts today that the truth resonation our hearts all our days that we can stand with the Heavenly hosts and Proclaim glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace among those with whom he is, please follow me. Thank you again for your word lord of the in this day. We stanky for your stuff for Jesus our savior. Come to Earth to save us. We thank you for his work to saving work his faithfulness and coming and living and dying. Were there any here this morning who don't know you after that you would open their eyes to see their need for Jesus said they would understand the truth of the gospel and come to him and repentance. Go to know what it means to fear not thank you for Jesus. We thank you for this gift while there be with us. Now as we take communion if we go about the rest of our day be glorified in our lives and you just wonderful name we pray. Amen.