We Interrupt This Year For A Special Announcement (2)

It is for all mankind

The interruption of the birth of Jesus is not just personal, it is for all mankind. We have a part to play in that. We have a purpose. That purpose it to make Him known. Let us remember this Christmas that this message is for all mankind. Do not keep it to yourself. Join us this weekend as we learn how to herald the coming King as the Angels did and as the shepherds did.

Luke 2:8–17 ESV

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, 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 a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths 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 heaven, the shepherds 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 found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

Back when I was young, my friend Tony Riffle and I used to get paid by a man up the road from us to help him teardown houses. The deal was that anything we found we could keep or sell but we had to clean everything up afterward.

One day, we found some old telegrams inside the walls of a house. They were about a teacher accepting an offer of employment in Parkersburg for $27 a month. Another was about the death of a soldier in World War 1. My mom still has a Wood County Court Docket book we found listing things like a fine for spitting on the sidewalk. They were amazing. We went on to find several of those types of things back then but we learned a lesson right off the bat. If we kept everything we found, those things were only of value to us. However, if we found some way to get them out to other people, they were suddenly invaluable. No price could be put on them.

The Gospel is that way as well. Of course it is valuable to us personally. We talked about that last week but, this Gospel, good news, is invaluable when we begin to tell others. The pearl of great price becomes invaluable. This Gospel is meant for all mankind. We are meant to share it with everyone we come in contact with.

I want to show you a verse that will come back into play next week.

2 Peter 1:21 ESV

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

God inspired men to write the words we read and the promises they hold.

Why is this important right here?

We do not convey the gospel of mans design

We convey the Gospel of God’s design

What is the design of God’s Gospel then?

John 3:16–17 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

You personally are to be impacted by this, but not only you.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We are to take it beyond ourselves to all mankind

Luke 2:10 ESV

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.

We get in trouble when we forget this.

Why?

Because we start to hoard or defend it rather than advance it.

We will talk more about that on Christmas Eve.

Matthew 16:18 ESV

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The church is not to try and keep hell out, hell is trying to keep the church out.

This year hell has an ally. As a matter of fact, it has several. Covid, politics and social issues. It has managed to put the church on the defensive.

The Gospel has always been meant to be offensive not defensive.

Part of the reason we do not experience this interruption from 200 years ago the way we should is because we are too busy defending our own things, our own places. Instead of advancing the gospel. The Good News that a Savior has come.

The cry has become defend our place, defend our service, defend our rights.

Hell has no defense against the Gospel.

It needs no defense if we are not advancing.

We defend the hope that is within in us but we advance the Gospel.

Do you realize that it is the easiest it has ever been to invite someone to hear the message of the Gospel?

You can send it into their living room.

Share a link, Burn a DVD, invite them to come watch at your home.

The Gospel is unstoppable.

But the people who hear the message have to be as well.

Do Not Keep This Message To Yourself!

It is meant for you personally but it was not meant to stop there.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 2

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among men bwith whom He is pleased.”

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

14 Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and peace on earth to people He favors! v

The New King James Version Chapter 2

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

This interruption was introduce the Savior of the world, the plan of God for salvation to all mankind.

It conveys goodwill toward men, those He is pleased with because of the shed blood of Christ. Thanks to that blood, we find favor in His eyes.

That is a message worth sharing!

God, came to earth as a baby. Lived a sinless life, dies a sinners death for us so we could experience true forgiveness and restoration. Rose again to conquer death and show us that something beyond this world exists..

It began on Christmas Day but did not end there.

It began with you personally but it did not end there.

The message of Christ’s birth is meant for all mankind

Will you share it with others this holiday season?