Glory to God in the Highest
Notes
Transcript
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
IN A FEW DAYS THE WORLD WILL CELEBRATE
CHRISTMAS DAY WITH THE JOYS OF THE
MORNING CELEBRATION WITH FAMILY. AND
THEN, JUST LIKE THAT, IN A SPAN OF 24-
HOURS, IT WILL ALL BE OVER.
THE SAD REALITY IS CHRISTMAS SURE DOES
NOT LAST.
IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TREES WILL BE ON
THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR PICK-UP AND BE
DISCARDED - DECORATIONS TAKEN DOWN,
STORED IN GARAGE OR ATTIC AND JUST AS
QUICK ON TO THE NEXT CELEBRATION OF
NEW YEARS DAY.
• THAT IS THE TROUBLE WITH THE THINGS OF CHRISTMAS
• THEY ALL HAVE A SHELF LIFE
• THAT IS EVERYTHING BUT THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
WITH ALL THAT TAKES PLACE DURING THE
CHRISTMAS SEASON I WOULD LIKE TO SET
OUR FOCUS BACK TO WHERE IT BELONGS.
WE ALL CAN FOCUS ON FAMILY – GIFTS –
MEALS – DECORATIONS – VACATIONS –
TRAVELING.
WE CAN FOCUS ON – ANGELS – SHEPHERDS
– MARY AND JOSEPH – NO ROOM IN THE INN
– ALL INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE.
BUT, ULTIMATELY – CHRISTMAS IS REALLY
ALL ABOUT GOD.
OUR FOCUS ON THIS CHRISTMAS NEEDS TO
BE DIRECTED ON THE LORD.
IT IS SO EASY TO LOSE SIGHT OF THAT WITH
ALL THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THE
SEASON.
AND FOR MANY OF US THIS TIME OF THE
YEAR CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR BECAUSE A
LOVED ONE IS NO LONGER HERE.
AND I DO NOT WANT TO TRIVIALIZE THAT AT
ALL.
• I REMEMBER MY GRANDMOTHER WOULD MAKE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FOR ME MY BROTHERS AND COUSINS BACK IN GAITHERSBURG, MD – SHE WOULD MAKE CAKES AND GINGERBREAD MEN FROM SCRATCH…..AND EVEN AS A GROWN MAN….WHEN I WOULD RETURN HOME FROM MY DUTY STATION FOR CHRISTMAS…..THERE WAS ALWAYS A GINGERBREAD MAN WITH MY NAME ON IT……. SHE IS NO LONGER WITH US
• PERHAPS YOUR GRANDMOTHER, GRANDFATHER.....OR MOTHER AND FATHER THAT CREATED GREAT MEMORIES FOR YOU AND NOW THEY ARE NO LONGER HERE
• SIBLINGS ARE TRANSITIONING AND LEAVING VOIDS IN OUR HEART
• BUT, ULTIMATELY CHRISTMAS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND WILL ALWAYS BE ABOUT CHRIST
HANDEL’S MESSIAH HAD A SONG “AND THE GLORY”.
SO EASILY WE CAN MISS WHAT IT MEANS, “AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHONE AROUND THEM.”
THIS PHRASE IS A POWERFUL REVELATION OF THE LORD GOD’S PRESENCE AT CHRISTMAS.
“THE GLORY OF THE LORD.”
IF WE LOSE SIGHT OF THAT, THEN CHRISTMAS TIME BECOMES A PERIOD OF SADNESS AND LACK THE CAPACITY OF CELEBRATION.
REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID IN
JOHN 11:25
John 11:25 (NRSV)
25 ... “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,
IF I WERE TO ASK EACH OF US THIS MORNING TO DEFINE THE WORD “GLORY”, WE WOULD PROBABLY HEAR VARIED DEFINITIONS AND EXPLANATIONS.
WE HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING WHEN WE DEFINE THE WORD HALLELUJAH, THE HIGHEST PRAISE.
WE CAN DEFINE AND UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRAISE AND WORSHIP.
PRAISE IS WHAT WE DO AND WORSHIP REMOVES US FROM THE EQUATION.
WE EVEN DO WELL WITH DEFINING AND UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRACE AND MERCY.
OUR TEXT THIS MORNING PLACES FOCUS UPON A DIFFERENT ASPECT - “THE GLORY.”
WHAT IS THE GLORY THAT WE READ IN THIS EXCITING TEXT THIS MORNING?
WHEN WE CONSIDER VARIOUS ARTISTS
PAINTINGS OF HOW THEY DEPICT THE
ANGELS IN THE SKY AT CHRISTMAS....THE
ARTISTS TRY TO MAKE IT LOOK BRIGHT AND
SHINY BEHIND THE ANGELS.
WHAT IS MISSED IS THAT THE BRIGHT AND
SHINY IS NOT FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE
ANGELS, BUT RATHER FROM THE PRESENCE
OF THE LORD HIMSELF.
WHEN THE LORD IN ALL HIS GLORY IS SEEN IT IS TOO AWESOME FOR HUMANS TO BEHOLD WITH THE NAKED EYE.
IT WOULD BE ALMOST LIKE LOOKING DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN.
OUR EYES COULD NOT TAKE THE FULL GLORY AND LIVE.
REMEMBER WHAT GOD TOLD MOSES WHEN HE HAD EXPERIENCED AND FOUND HIMSELF IN A SPIRITUAL MELTDOWN? –
20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.” 21 And the Lord continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; 23 then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”
OTHER TIMES WE HAVE THE GLORY OF THE LORD DISPLAYED AND MISS IT, REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED ON MOUNT SINAI.
EXODUS 24:15-18 - WHEN MOSES WENT UP ON THE MOUNTAIN, THE CLOUD COVERED IT:
• AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SETTLED ON MOUNT SINAI
• FOR SIX DAYS THE CLOUD COVERED THE MOUNTAIN
• ON THE SEVENTH DAY THE LORD CALLED TO MOSES FROM WITHIN THE CLOUD
• TO THE ISRAELITES THE GLORY OF THE LORD LOOKED LIKE A CONSUMING FIRE ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN
WE ALSO READ IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WHENEVER THE GLORY OF THE LORD WOULD FILL THE TEMPLE, EVEN THE PRIESTS COULD NOT ENTER IN.
THE PRESENCE AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD WAS TOO POWERFUL EVEN FOR THE MEN OF GOD TO ENTER.
WHEN MOSES STOOD BEFORE THE LORD ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE MEDIAN DESSERT, HE SAW A BUSH BURNING BUT NOT BEING CONSUMED.
HE SAID LET ME TURN AND SEE THIS GREAT SIGHT.
ALTHOUGH GOD WAS PRESENT …..HE STILL SAID MOSES DON’T COME ANY CLOSER – TAKE THE SHOES OFF YOUR FEET FOR THE GROUND YOU STAND UPON IS HOLY GROUND.
******PAUSE*****
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST
*******PAUSE*******
ISAIAH THE PROPHET FORETOLD THE COMING OF THE CHRIST CHILD.
HE WROTE IN ISAIAH 40:5
5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
AND THEN WE SEE IN OUR TEXT THIS MORNING - LUKE 2:9
9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
IMAGINE THAT – SHEPHERDS BEING ALONE
IN THE DARKNESS, AND SUDDENLY
SURROUNDED BY AN INCREDIBLY BRIGHT
LIGHT, THE GLORY OF THE LORD.
THAT GLORY IS A HEAVENLY LIGHT IT IS
DIVINE TRUTH.
WE SEE THAT SAME GLORY REFLECTED IN
JESUS CHRIST......
LOOK AT HEBREWS 1:3
HEB 1:3
3 He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
• THE BABY IN THE MANGER IS THE
RADIANCE OF GOD’S GLORY
• HE IS THE EXACT REPRESENTATION OF
GOD’S BEING
*PAUSE.....GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST
THE DISCIPLES WOULD GET A GLIMPSE OF
HIS GLORY DURING JESUS’ MINISTRY.
JOHN WROTE.....IN JOHN 1:14
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
WE SHOULD BE PROCLAIMING GLORY TO
GOD IN THE HIGHEST
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!!!
AND I CAN’T HELP BUT TO SHOUT HALLELUJAH!!!
FBC….ITS THINK ABOUT THE
TIME WHEN JESUS WAS BORN.......
YOU SEE.......
IT IS WONDERFUL TO KNOW…..THAT
• THE ONE WHO HOLDS THE WORLD IN HIS
HANDS - WAS HELD IN A MANGER
• THE ETERNAL ONE - CAUGHT IN A MOMENT
OF TIME
• OMNIPRESENCE - CAPTURED IN A BABY
• OMNIPOTENCE - CRADLED IN A HELPLESS
INFANT WHO COULD NOT EVEN RAISE HIS
HEAD FROM THE STRAW
• OMNISCIENCE - CONFINED IN A BABY WHO
COULD NOT SAY A WORD
• THE CHRIST WHO CREATED THE HEAVENS
AND THE EARTH - CRADLED IN A MANGER IN
A STABLE....
• HE LOVED US.....BEFORE WE WERE FORMED
IN OUR MOTHERS WOMB
• WHAT DIVINE WISDOM!
• WHAT A FAR REACHING GRACE!
• GOD’S NATURE NOW REVEALED IN HIS INCARNATION
• WHAT ELSE COULD THE ANGLES PROCLAIM
BEYOND – GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!
AT THIS VERY MOMENT, MANKIND DID NOT
REALIZE WHAT WAS GOING ON.
NO ONE HAD A CLUE AS TO WHAT GOD HAD
JUST DONE.
I'M SURE THE ANGELS STOOD PRAISING IN
AWE OF GOD’S AWESOME LOVE AND
HUMILITY.
• THE LOVE SO GREAT THAT THE FATHER
WOULD NOT SPARE HIS OWN SON
• THAT THE SON THOUGH RICH BECAME
POOR
• THOUGH TOTALLY PURE WOULD
VICARIOUSLY BEAR THE CURSE OF SIN
• SO THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT COULD DWELL IN
SINFUL HEARTS
• THE ANGLES KNEW WHAT GOD HAD JUST DONE.....SO THEY
• PROCLAIMED GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!
• GLORY, THEREFORE; IS THE SUM TOTAL OF ALL THE PRAISE – POWER – HONOR - MAJESTY - THAT BELONGS TO GOD.
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!
• MEN AND ANGELS DO NOT GIVE THIS
"GLORY" TO GOD
• IT IS ALREADY HIS AND WILL ALWAYS BE HIS
FROM ETERNITY TO ETERNITY
• WHAT THE ANGELS IN THE HEAVENS AND
BEFORE THE THRONE WERE DOING IS
RECOGNIZING AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE
GLORY THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOD'S
I BELIEVE WE HAVE LOST SIGHT OF THAT ....
THAT’S WHY THE EARLY CHRISTIANS CALLED JESUS “EMMANUEL.”
IT’S A HEBREW WORD AND IT MEANS “GOD WITH US.”
IN OUR MODERN WORLD AND MODERN
THINKING WE NO LONGER EQUATE THE
NAME “JESUS” WITH THE POWER OF
EMMANUEL.
• THE GLORY OF EMMANUEL
• GOD WITH US
WHO COULD HAVE PICKED SUCH A NAME?
MARY AND JOSEPH DIDN'T.
THEY WOULD NEVER HAVE DREAMED OF
GIVING THEIR CHILD THIS NAME.
• BACK IN THAT TIME ....A JEWISH PARENT WOULD NOT DARE
• MARY AND JOSEPH DID NOT SELECT THIS
NAME FOR THIS BABY NOW WRAPPED IN
SWADDLING CLOTHES
• EMMANUEL—THAT NAME SUMS UP THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL
DON’T GET ME WRONG FOR THE NAME
JESUS MEANS YAHWEH SAVES.
WE THANK GOD FOR THE NAME AND THE
PERSON OF JESUS.
FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME WHEREBY
MEN MUST BE SAVED!
THAT’S WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT
KNOWING THAT GOD IS WITH US!
CHRISTMAS REMINDS US OF A TRUTH SO
PROFOUND
• GOD CHOSE TO SEND HIS SON JESUS TO BE BORN AND RAISED AMONG SIMPLE, COMMON FOLK
• GOD HIMSELF IN HUMAN FLESH
• HE IS GOD WITH US
THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON HE HAS COME
AGAIN TO BE EMMANUEL TO US.
TO BE OUR FRIEND ADMIST THE STRUGGLES
WE FACE.
• AS WE ARE HE LOVES US
• AS WE ARE HE CAME FOR OUR SINS
• AS WE ARE HE WANTS TO BE WITH US AND
LET US TELL HIM ABOUT IT
• HE KNOWS HOW IT IS
• HE KNOWS THE WAY THROUGH IT
• AND HE HAS COME TO US
• HE HAS COME TO BE OUR EMMANUEL
• OUR GOD WITH US
• YES, GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!
• EMMANUEL, GOD WRAPPED IN FLESH
• EMMANUEL, WHO CAME TO EARTH IN HUMAN FORM
• EMMANUEL, WHO KNOWS THE STRUGGLE OF OUR PAIN
• EMMANUEL, WHO KNOWS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE DISAPPOINTED BY OTHERS
• EMMANUEL, WHO KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE DESERTED BY FRIENDS ....AND TALKED ABOUT
• EMMANUEL, GOD OF VERY GOD
• EMMANUEL, ROBED IN HUMANITY KNOWS
WHAT IT IS TO BE WITHOUT,
EVEN WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF THE
FATHER ON A CROSS ALONE
• EMMANUEL, OUR ANSWER
• EMMANUEL, OUR ABILITY TO WAIT IS
FOUND IN THE ONE WHO WAITS WITH US
• EMMANUEL, BECAUSE HE WAITS WITH US,
NEVER EVER LEAVING US
• FBC YOU OUGHT TO SHOUT...... GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!
THIS SEASON REMINDS US OF THE GLORY OF OUR SAVIOR DURING THIS HOLY SEASON.
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I AM GLAD THAT I HAVE A SAVIOR THAT PROMISED TO NEVER LEAVE US ALONE.
EMMANUEL GOD WITH US NO MATTER WHAT, JUST AS HE WAS WITH –
• ADAM WHEN HE ATE THE FRUIT
• DAVID WHEN HE COMMITTED ADULTERY
• JOSEPH WHEN HE DOUBTED
• MARY WHEN SHE PONDERED
• PETER WHEN HE DENIED HIM
• PAUL WHEN HE TRIED TO STONE THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN HIM
• JUDAS WHEN HE BETRAYED HIM
GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!!