THE SHEPHERDS: A SONG OF JOY

Introduction

-One of my favorite Christmas TV shows is “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (the original from the ‘60s)—the story of this funny looking green fellow who is absolutely miserable and wants to make sure everybody else is miserable right along with him—so he tries to prevent the Whos in Whoville from having Christmas by stealing everything, yet he finds the Whos are not affected because the joy of the season is not in the presents and decorations or the roast beast—there is something grander from which Christmas joy comes

-Unfortunately, there are many Christians who are just as miserable as the Grinch, but it is not just around Christmas time—they are a Grinch in January, February, March…{OK, you get picture}—there are people call selves Christians who the song from the Grinch that Boris Karlof sings fits them to a T—

You're a mean one Mr. Grinch

You really are a heel

You're as cuddly as a cactus

You’re as charming as an eel

Mr. Grinch

You're a bad banana with a greasy black peel

-Maybe you know someone like that—but when you truly look at the amazing event that is the true Christmas and what it means for time and for eternity, how in the world can someone who names the name of Christ have anything less than overflowing joy—there is no room for Grinch Christians

-We’ve been looking at The Bible’s Christmas Songs{Mary: Trust; Simeon: Hope}, and we see in the story of the angels and the shepherds a song of joy—when the shepherds were confronted with the news of a Savior from the angels, there was joy—so, let’s join in that joy

Luke 2:8–20 ESV

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 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. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 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, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 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.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

-What is joy? One author=the inward feeling of happiness and contentment that bursts forth in rejoicing and praise----but joy is not found in the things of the world----in a few days you may be opening a lot of presents, and yet joy is not going to be found in any of those boxes; joy does not come to you wrapped with a bow, because it cannot nor ever will be found in a package, but in a manger—I want you today to consider the reasons for joy that Christ’s birth brings and allow yourself to experience and make it a lifestyle of living with joy because joy did not just come to the shepherds, but to all mankind in Christmas

I see 5 reasons of joy found in Christ:

I) The Joy of Compassionate Protection

-I asked myself the question, why shepherds—of all people to make this huge announcement too, why them

-one reason God chose them was because they’re heart for the sheep was a reflection of God’s heart for humanity

-here they are watching/guarding/ protecting their flock by night--and the Son taking on human flesh was really God showing humanity that He was doing the same thing

-Jesus in the manger is God telling humanity “I love you and I am here to protect you from power of sin and Satan”----Psalm 23 is a picture of God the shepherd protecting His people: Psalm 23:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

-That is the Shepherd with a compassionate protection over His sheep—Christ is God showing compassion toward sinful humanity by protecting them from the power and penalty of their sin

~And so, what is our response to a Shepherd who does such a thing—it gives us joy

II) The Joy of Unconditional Acceptance

-another reason God chose the shepherds is because of who they represented in humanity, the meek, the humble, the downtrodden

-you may have heard some pastors say that shepherds were thieves and were not allowed to make testimonies in trials because they were known liars—but think that came later in Jewish thought because in the OT and NT shepherds are looked upon favorably, and that’s why imagery used so often

-but for God’s purposes here, shepherds represented people who were of no importance whatsoever in society—they were poor and often overlooked—had no power to wield in politics, had no glitz or glamour of fame or fortune, were not looked upon as someone who truly had something to offer to society—they were the common folk

-but those whom culture and society overlooks are the ones that God has His eyes on—to use a biblical term, they represented the WHOSOEVERS—with this announcement, God telling everybody everywhere that it doesn’t matter what your social status is…where you are on the corporate ladder…how the world has pigeonholed you into their own little categories, the Christ-child came for you, and whosoever believes in Him has everlasting life—it is in Christ that God accepts people----not based on how smart or dumb, beautiful or ugly, short or tall, young or old, or any other manmade way of judging people, this child brings unconditional acceptance from God if you believe

-India has its caste system, the military has its chain of command, the corporate world has its pecking order, but in Christ whosoever (without any regard to any category) can be unconditionally accepted in that Christ child

-that means you—as song says “Whosoever surely meaneth me” --and it really does and that’s why the shepherds found joy in what the angels announced

III) The Joy of Glorious Presence

-it says when the angels appeared the glory of God shown around the shepherds; this means there was a physical manifestation of God’s power and attributes and majesty—not only were the angels there to announce the birth of Christ, but God Himself was there to announce what He had done

-but the presence of God did not just come in the form of a light—the real, tangible presence of God came in the baby, for the child that was born was Immanuel=God with us----God stepped down from the heights of heaven to reach down to pitiful human beings out of love

-That glory that shown brightly around the shepherds, veiled itself in flesh, and walked among mankind to be present with them, to teach and to guide—His true glory was briefly seen at the Mount of Transfiguration--and that glory of God gave Himself as our perfect substitute

-but that glorious presence of God rose the 3rd day, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father—but He did not abandon us; He was not here for a brief moment only to leave again—for He is now present in every believer thru the Holy Spirit that He sent

-That’s right, the glorious presence of God is now present in us--and thru His Holy Spirit God tells His people that He is with us, He will never forsake us, for wherever we go, there will he be with us always----didn’t Jesus promise that He would be with us even unto the end of the age???

-What joy to know that when you are at you loneliest, when you feel there is no one there, He is right there----you don’t have to feel it, because the Bible promises it and it is so

IV) The Joy of Dispelled Fears

-when the angel appeared the shepherds were terrified (which I probably would be too)--but

The angels tell them “Do not be afraid”—for the news that they would share about the baby that was born is not a reason to fear, but rejoice

-God did not give us a spirit of fear, for God did not send the Son into the world in order to condemn the world, but that the world thru this child would be saved

-When you consider what Christmas truly means, what is there to fear? You can’t fear death, because Jesus defeated death…Satan, greater is He who is in you than He in world…man,

Psalm 118:6

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?,

although we are to reverence God with fear, we need not be terrified of Him

Romans 5:1

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

-A wise man said: Perfect joy may cast out fear, but fear is remarkably potent in casting out joy.----Jesus came not to give us fear, but joy

V) The Joy of Eternal Salvation

-v. 10—the word “good news” is word where we get “gospel”--and what is the gospel==v. 11----a Savior has been born

-the Shepherds went and found it just as they had been told, a Savior was born to save mankind from their sin—for with that child came forth the promises of God: John 3:36

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

John 5:24

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

-What joy to know that you were separated from God forever and ever, yet He stepped down to make the way for you to be in His presence forever and ever----what joy to know that the child would grow to live the perfect life that you could never lead and died the perfect substitute so you would not have to and raised again so that new, eternal life would be yours

Conclusion

-Wow, what reasons for joy that the angels announced and the shepherd’s experienced, which is also ours because of Christ’s coming—but how did the shepherd’s act upon their joy, and what should be our response to this joy as well

-First, they talked about it—v. 17 says made widely known what was told them about the Child—in their joy, their overflowing hearts turned into unstoppable words—they just couldn’t stop talking about it----maybe we are silent about Christ because we’ve suppressed joy; if something doesn’t impress us, if it hasn’t been allowed to impact our lives, we are silent because there’s nothing to talk about—but when the impact of Jesus’ coming has its way in us, and the joy of what it means overwhelms us, we just can’t stop talking about it

-Secondly, they worshipped God boldly—v. 20—joy leads to worship that is unashamed

-If you would truly realize that Christ’s coming means God’s compassionate protection over you, that it means His unconditional acceptance, that you are indwelled by His glorious presence and all fear is dispelled because of the eternal salvation that is yours, you’d talk about Him and worship Him too

-Since creation mankind has pursued joy in every avenue imaginable, but due to their sinfulness have looked in the wrong places. Listen as I describe where joy is not found:

~Not in Unbelief -- Voltaire was an atheistic philosopher who was hostile toward Christianity. And in his atheism he wrote: "I wish I had never been born."

~Not in Pleasure -- Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone did. He wrote: "The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone."

~Not in Money -- Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: "I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth."

~Not in Position and Fame -- Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: "Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret."

~Not in Military Glory -- Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent, before he said, "There are no more worlds to conquer."

-Joy is not found in any of those, but it is found in Christ

- Christian, maybe you’ve been more like a year-around Grinch, forgetting the joy that is yours in Christ and need to come to the altar to reclaim it

-still others have never experienced such joy because never experienced Christ…[GOSPEL]—how sad that so many live in despair, not just now but for eternity, because they would not receive Him—but John 1:12

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God